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Zelensky says he discussed idea of Western troops in Ukraine with Macron Europe

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had discussed the idea of Western "contingents" being deployed in Ukraine with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Monday. Zelensky did not give further details about what these "partner contingents" might entail.

Issued on: 13/01/2025 - 21:44

1 min By: NEWS WIRES France's President Emmanuel Macron and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky pose before a meeting in Brussels, Belgium on December 18, 2024. © Nicolas Tucat, Reuters

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he spoke with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Monday and discussed the idea of Western "contingents" being deployed to Ukraine.

The Ukrainian leader did not say whether he was talking about the West sending combat troops or peacekeepers as part of a settlement to end the nearly three-year war with Russia.

"Today I spoke with the president of France. It was a rather long and detailed conversation. We discussed defence support – various forms of defence, arms packages for Ukraine," Zelensky said in his evening address.

"We also discussed the deployment of partner contingents and the training of our military," he added.

Macron has floated the idea of sending Western troops to Ukraine before, including last month when he and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk discussed the possibility of stationing peacekeepers there in the event of a ceasefire.

Moscow accelerated its advances in Ukraine last year, as Kyiv's overstretched army suffered from exhaustion and a lack of manpower.

US President-elect Donald Trump has promised to bring a swift end to the fighting when he enters office next week, raising fears in Ukraine that it will be forced to make major territorial concessions in exchange for peace.

(AFP)

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• France
• Ukraine
• Emmanuel Macron
• Volodymyr Zelensky
• Russia
• Ukraine war analysis

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