Germany Kiev supports deployment of troops from Nato states
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi is in favor of deploying troops from NATO countries as part of possible security guarantees following a peace agreement with Russia.
15.01.2025, 16:59
15.01.2025, 17:00
SDA
"We support the idea that a contingent from one country or another, our allies, our strategic partners, can become part of the security guarantees," said the head of state at a press conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw.
He had already discussed the issue of troop deployment in general terms with French President Emmanuel Macron and representatives of the Baltic states. He will also discuss this with Great Britain, said Selenskyj.
Many questions regarding the strength and equipment of the troops and the deployment location still need to be clarified. "Before the contingent, however, there should be instructors with a large training program for our boys in Ukraine," said Selenskyj. In addition, foreign soldiers could only be part of the security guarantees for his country.
He once again rejected a reduction in the size of the Ukrainian army. "Today, the Ukrainian army is our only guarantee of security," said the Ukrainian president. In addition, the maintenance of the Ukrainian military would require financial aid from the West even after the end of the war.
Ukraine produces a third of its own weapons
The supply of weapons to the army is also a question of security. "Around 33 to 34 percent of Ukraine's total annual arms requirements are produced domestically," said the head of state.
At the beginning of the war, this figure was less than ten percent. The European allies currently cover just under 30 percent, the USA up to 40 percent of weapons requirements. Nevertheless, Russia is superior in almost all types of weapons. "We have more drones," he said.
According to Selenskyj, there are currently just over 600,000 Russian soldiers in Ukraine. He put the strength of his own army at 880,000 men. In an interview just two weeks ago, he spoke of a force of 980,000, but said that the Russians still outnumbered the Ukrainians on some sections of the front.
Ukraine has been defending itself against a Russian invasion for almost three years. A good fifth of the country is occupied by Russia. The demilitarization of Ukraine is one of Moscow's conditions for a peace agreement. The Kremlin categorically rejects the stationing of NATO troops and the accession of the neighboring country to NATO. The goal of joining the Western military alliance has been enshrined in Ukraine's constitution since 2019.
Poland supports Kiev's Nato and EU ambitions
Tusk said that NATO membership would offer Ukraine the greatest security, but that this was controversial within the alliance. "If every Donald in the world had the same opinion on security guarantees for Ukraine as I do, then this scenario would probably be easier," he said, referring to future US President Donald Trump. Polish President Andrzej Duda said that NATO should at least invite Ukraine.
Poland would use its EU Council Presidency until June to push for Ukraine's accession to the European Union, Tusk promised.
