NATO ‘peacekeepers’ in Ukraine? – “That means war with NATO”

“This is Russian land…”
Pic.: AI

The deployment of “peacekeepers” from NATO member states to Ukraine would trigger an all-out war between the military Alliance and Moscow, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev who currently serves as the Deputy Chair of Russia’s Security Council has warned. In recent weeks, the leaders of the UK and France have ramped up discussions about such a mission. “That means war with NATO”, he noted.

It is not the first negative response articulated in Russia on that issue. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made several statements that their deployment in Ukraine would create a direct threat to Russia from the transatlantic Alliance. Moscow’s explanation is that such NATO contingents will be involved in a direct military confrontation with it irrespective of the name-tags and the uniform they wear.

Despite such straight warnings British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he was willing to station thousands of British troops in Ukraine for years in order to uphold any future peace deal brokered by the USA. In his words, the UK was prepared to put "boots on the ground and planes in the air" in order to make any agreement work. It follows a recent conference call between the UK and 29 allies – excluding the US – to discuss how a “peacekeeping” mission involving their troops could work in practice.

On March 13, 2025, US President Donald Trump acknowledged that “thousands of Ukrainian troops are completely surrounded by the Russian military and in a very bad and vulnerable position” in Kursk Region and urged Moscow to “spare” their lives. In response, Vladimir Putin offered the servicemen guaranteed safety and merciful treatment if they surrender. He expressed hope that current Ukrainian military-political leaders might issue an order for the encircled Ukrainian GIs to lay down arms.

Kiev, meanwhile, has staunchly denied that its forces in Kursk Region are surrounded. In a post on Telegram on March 15, Zelensky acknowledged that the situation in the area is “difficult” for Ukraine, but stated that “there is no encirclement” of Ukrainian troops.” The same view has been officially expressed by General Aleksandr Syrsky, Commander of Ukraine’s Ground Forces, and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga.

All the reports about the encirclement “are false and fabricated by the Russians for political manipulation,” Ukrainian General Staff said in a statement on March 15. “We are continuing the operation in Kursk Region and will continue to do so,” Zelensky stated later.

Their words can be interpreted that they deny to cooperate with the USA and Russia on resolving the issue of Ukrainian forces’ fate in Kursk Region on humanitarian grounds.

Instead, there are reports that foreign mercenaries in the area are preventing escaping Ukrainian troops to leave the territory by using weapons.

Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) are still shelling not only Russian troops but trapped Ukrainian GIs as well, by employment of HIMARs MLRS and cluster munitions. Many Ukrainian soldiers have been kept there and convicted in military crimes in terms of civilians like intentional killings, raping and robbery.

By now, the Russian MFA announced that 6,500 criminal cases have been opened against Ukrainian GIs operated along all fronts.

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