Zelenskyy: Foreign troop presence in Ukraine could number in thousands

“This is not about units in the dozens but in the thousands,” Zelenskyy said. “That’s a fact, though it’s still too early to go into detail.”

His remarks follow reports in The Wall Street Journal citing a European diplomat, who said that European military leaders have drafted a deployment plan that includes two land-based groups in Ukraine. One would focus on training and supporting Ukrainian troops, while the other would deter possible future Russian aggression.

According to the diplomat, the plan currently envisions deploying more than 10,000 soldiers, with air patrols over Ukraine to be carried out by forces based outside the country.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty also reported, citing its sources, that the European mission could involve 25,000 to 30,000 troops, though the numbers remain under discussion.

French President Emmanuel Macron recently said that 26 countries are prepared either to send peacekeepers to Ukraine or to contribute funds to support what he called a “coalition of the willing.”

On Aug. 29, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said EU member states plan to send military instructors to Ukraine under the EUMAM training mission, which would serve as part of the bloc’s long-term security guarantees for Ukraine once a ceasefire is in place.