Türkiye willing to discuss Ukraine peacekeeping role after ceasefire
Türkiye could participate in a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine following a ceasefire, a Turkish Defense Ministry source told Reuters on March 6.
Discussions about deploying Turkish troops remain conceptual, with no concrete decisions made yet.
“The issue of contributing to a mission will be considered if deemed necessary for establishing regional stability and peace, and will be assessed mutually with all relevant parties,” the source said.
Turkiye’s possible role in a Ukraine peacekeeping force isn’t fully defined, the source added. If Ankara opts to send troops, a ceasefire must first be declared, with initial deployments involving non-combat units to monitor the truce, Reuters noted.
Turkiye boasts NATO’s second-largest military after the United States.
Last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed potential foreign troop deployments with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in separate Ankara meetings.
On Feb. 27, Bloomberg, citing informed sources, reported Turkiye’s openness to troop deployment talks for a Ukraine peacekeeping force.
Potential NATO troop deployment to Ukraine
On Feb. 13, Zelenskyy said ensuring peace in Ukraine would require 100,000 peacekeepers, noting that his military had mapped out the need for foreign troops. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said the United States will not send forces to Ukraine.
On Feb. 16, The Telegraph reported U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying he is “ready and willing” to deploy British troops to enforce any Ukraine peace deal.
Sweden’s Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard also said Stockholm is not ruling out sending troops for a postwar peacekeeping mission.
On Feb. 19, The Guardian wrote that the U.K. and France plan a 30,000-strong European force to deter future Russian attacks on Ukraine.
On Feb. 24, U.S. President Donald Trump said he does not oppose European troops in Ukraine, claiming Russian leader Vladimir Putin might accept it — a claim the Kremlin denied.
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