KYIV – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced Friday that European military planners could finalize a framework within a month for deploying foreign troops in Ukraine, a move seen as vital to securing a future peace agreement with Russia.
Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv after meeting with top British and French military officials, Zelenskiy said the plan would involve foreign forces patrolling Ukrainian land, sea, and airspace to help deter future aggression.
“The teams need about a month, no longer, and we will be fully ready with an understanding of this infrastructure,” Zelenskiy stated, adding that weekly meetings would be held to iron out the details.
While Zelenskiy did not name all participating nations, he said several countries had shown willingness to contribute troops and that discussions were focused not only on numbers but also on the scope and mandate of the mission.
The talks came on the same day a Russian missile strike killed 14 people in Zelenskiy’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih, underscoring the urgency of Ukraine’s security concerns. Ukrainian military leaders, including the country’s top general and chief of general staff, also held meetings with visiting European officials to coordinate ongoing defense efforts and long-term planning.