Macron explores UN peacekeeping mission for Ukraine as plan-B: Report

French President Emmanuel Macron is exploring a plan for a United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission in Ukraine as plan-b, according to a report.

For weeks, Macron and British Prime Minister have been working on a plan for a ‘coalition of the willing’ nations to put together a peacekeeping force in Ukraine to enforce the ceasefire whenever the war between Ukraine and Russia ends. Even as 30 nations have participated in talks, it’s not yet clear how many are open to putting boots on the grounds. So far, only France and the United Kingdom have explicitly pledged to deploy soldiers in Ukraine.

As a US backstop to support a European-led efforts appears uncertain and the UK has said it would not deploy soldiers without US support, The Daily Telegraph has reported that Macron has explored the possibility of a UN peacekeeping mission for Ukraine.

Macron discussed the plan with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres at Thursday’s European Council Summit, according to the newspaper.

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However, it is not certain if Macron merely discussed the plan or he is seriously considering it. Any UN peacekeeping mission for Ukraine would either be toothless or a non-starter because it would need to be approved by the UN Security Council (UNSC). As the aggressor nation, Russia, is a permanent member of the UN, it is bound to veto any proposal that does not suits its interests. Moreover, the United States under President Donald Trump is expected to follow the Russian’s line as well.

Under the peacekeeping proposal worked out by Starmer and Macron, up to 30,000 soldiers would be deployed in Ukraine’s cities, ports, and critical infrastructure sites, such as nuclear power plants. These personnel would be engaged in ’technical monitoring’ of the ceasefire, which would include intelligence; surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft; drones; and satellites to provide a complete picture of what is going on in the region under them.

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To enable Ukraine’s commercial airspace to open again, the peacekeepers would be provided with enough firepower to monitor and shoot down any aircraft violating the ceasefire. There would be maritime component as well to enforce the ceasefire in the Black Sea.

Separately, in recent days, the UK has entered into talks for the Royal Air Force (RAF) to police Ukrainian skies in case of a ceasefire.

A source in the RAF told The Telegraph that British Army and Air Force “will be part of the first vanguard into Ukraine”.