Switzerland weighs sending troops for Ukraine peacekeeping mission

“We could probably deploy about 200 soldiers over nine to twelve months,” Süssli said.

He stressed that if such a request is received, the final decision on Swiss military participation would be made by the government and parliament. However, he noted that discussions about deploying a peacekeeping contingent remain hypothetical, as the future of the Ukraine-Russia conflict is still uncertain.

“There is no peace yet, and no request [to send peacekeepers to Ukraine] has been made by the United Nations,” he said.

Neutral Switzerland is involved in several peacekeeping missions worldwide, including its largest deployment in Kosovo, where Swiss troops support NATO forces as part of the KFOR mission.

Possible NATO troop deployment in Ukraine

Discussions about sending troops to Ukraine resumed in November 2024 after Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election.

On Feb. 11, 2025, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the U.S. would not send troops to Ukraine. He added that Trump hoped for a swift peace agreement.

On Feb. 13, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that ensuring peace in Ukraine would require 100,000 peacekeepers, and that the military had mapped out the actual need for foreign troops.

On Feb. 14, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine was open to any peacekeeping mission.

On Feb. 16, The Telegraph reported that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer had expressed willingness to send British troops to Ukraine to enforce any peace agreement.

Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard also stated that Sweden does not rule out sending troops to Ukraine as part of a post-war peacekeeping mission.

On Feb. 18, The Guardian, citing defense sources, reported that UK officials believe ensuring Ukraine’s security with European support would require far fewer than the 100,000–150,000 troops previously estimated.

On Feb. 19, The Guardian reported that the UK and France were planning to establish a European force aimed at preventing future Russian attacks on Ukraine.

Western officials said the proposal includes fewer than 30,000 soldiers, with a likely focus on air and naval defense.