Ukraine seeks lasting security guarantees, not just foreign troops deployment - Foreign Affairs Ministry

His comments reflect Ukraine's seeking long-term security guarantees with deployment of foreign troops being a part of them.

On Jan. 23, Financial Times reported that Ukrainian officials view the presence of 40,000 to 50,000 foreign military personnel along the front lines as a viable scenario. While negotiations remain in their early stages, the idea reflects Kyiv’s broader efforts to deter future Russian aggression and ensure lasting stability.

"We do not refer to these contingents as peacekeepers," Tykhyi said.

"It’s simply an incorrect term. I know that all media outlets use it, but I want to emphasize that we do not because it is inappropriate and misleading."

He confirmed that discussions are ongoing regarding the potential stationing of foreign military forces in Ukraine. However, according to Tykhyi, these talks "are at a very early stage."

"It is still too early to talk about exact figures in real negotiations," he said, addressing media reports about specific numbers of troops.

"From Ukraine’s perspective, foreign military contingents could be part of security guarantees, but they are not the sole component of them."

He reiterated that Ukraine considers foreign troop presence "as just one element in a broader security framework aimed at preventing another Russian invasion."

"The key point I want to stress is that this is not just about ending hostilities in the short term. It’s about ensuring that Russian aggression does not happen again in the future," he stressed.

Kyiv’s discussions on this matter, he explained, focus on "potential modalities and parameters of what this presence might look like." However, he cautioned against speculating on exact troop numbers, as this would depend on many other factors and security measures included in the overall security package.

The MFA spokesperson also reiterated President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s position that strong and reliable security guarantees for Ukraine must involve both Europe and the United States:
"Only in this way can we ensure a stable and lasting security framework. This guarantee is of critical importance."