As NATO membership for Ukraine remains uncertain, discussions are intensifying about the potential deployment of European peacekeeping forces. However, questions remain about whether such a mission would be effective and whether European nations could commit enough troops.
100,000 Soldiers: Enough to Secure Ukraine?
As reported by WP Tech, Ukrainian analysts have assessed the effectiveness of a proposed European peacekeeping force. With Ukraine’s front lines and vulnerable borders stretching approximately 3,700 km, a 100,000-strong contingent would provide only 27 soldiers per kilometer.
For comparison, the total number of UN peacekeepers worldwide in 2019 was also around 100,000, with nearly half coming from African nations. Ukrainian experts argue that, given the scale of the conflict, such a force would be insufficient to deter Russian aggression.
Can Europe Send 100,000 Troops?
Deploying a large-scale force also raises logistical and political challenges. NATO’s European armies currently have around 2 million troops in total. However, when excluding non-EU members like Turkey and pro-Russian governments such as Hungary and Slovakia, the available number drops to 1.5 million.
Committing 100,000 troops would require around 6.5% of Europe’s military personnel to be sent to Ukraine. While this is not impossible, it would depend on the political will of individual European governments.
A Political Decision, Not Just a Military One
The idea of European-led peacekeeping forces remains controversial. While it could provide a security buffer for Ukraine, the scale of the deployment and the risk of direct confrontation with Russia make it a difficult decision.
Ultimately, whether Europe can and will send troops to Ukraine depends on political leaders’ willingness to commit military resources and face potential escalations in the conflict.
