Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave an update on Friday about ongoing discussions regarding the deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine as part of a ceasefire agreement. He met with the military chiefs of France and the UK in Kyiv to talk through the plan, which aims to bring in foreign forces to help keep the peace once a ceasefire is in place.
Zelensky told reporters that military teams would meet weekly to work out the details, and he’s hopeful that an agreement could be reached within the next month. He also mentioned that Turkey could play a key role in providing security guarantees for Ukraine, adding that he had already discussed this with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The president also shared that his government’s new proposals with the U.S. on minerals would be ready by next week. He said that the U.S. was close to taking steps to pressure Russia into agreeing to a ceasefire.
On Saturday, Zelensky spoke again, calling the progress made with European countries "tangible" and noting the first steps in planning the deployment of a foreign security contingent in Ukraine. This contingent, proposed by France and the UK, would serve as a reassurance force, designed to prevent fighting from restarting after a ceasefire.
Zelensky stated that military working groups would convene weekly to refine the specifics of the deployment plan, expressing optimism that an agreement could be finalized within the next month. He also highlighted Turkey's potential role in providing security guarantees for Ukraine, mentioning discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on this matter.
The proposed ceasefire agreement, initially agreed upon by Ukraine and the United States, entails a 30-day pause in hostilities, contingent upon Russia's matching commitment.
In exchange, the United States has agreed to lift the suspension of military aid to Ukraine, including intelligence sharing, and to resume security assistance.
However, Russia has expressed reservations, stating that the current proposal does not address its primary concerns, including demands related to Ukraine's NATO aspirations and territorial issues.
Complicating matters, recent reports indicate that Russia continues military operations despite the proposed ceasefire. For instance, a Russian missile strike in central Ukraine resulted in multiple civilian casualties.
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