Beijing is willing to send soldiers to Ukraine in a peacekeeping mission. China would do this only under certain conditions.
Chinese/photo soldiers: EPA/EFE
China pointed out its desire to participate in peacekeeping troops for Ukraine. EU diplomats have declared this for Welt am Sonntag, citing Chinese government circles. However, they stressed that the Beijing government would be prepared to do so only “If the peacekeeping troops were carried out on the basis of a mandate of the United Nations (UN) ”.
The Beijing plan received a mixed response in Brussels. On the one hand, it is said that the inclusion of countries in the global southern, such as China, could promote the acceptance of foreign troops to monitor peace. On the other hand, however, “There is also the danger that China would first want to spy in Ukraine and adopt a clearly pro-Russian position instead of a neutral one in the event of a conflict. “said a high EU diplomat familiar with current discussions.
In addition, most EU countries are not too eager to provide potential Pacificators with a UN mandate for various reasons. However, Italy has been pronounced firmly in this sense for months.
On Wednesday, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov excluded an agreement without the participation of Russia and, possibly, China, given the debate on security guarantees for Ukraine requested by Western countries – which also include peacekeeping forces. “The West understands very well that a serious discussion about security guarantees without the Russian Federation is utopian”said Lavrov. The Foreign Minister thus contradicted US President Trump, who said on Tuesday, after a telephone call with Russian leader Putin, that he does not believe that European security guarantees would be a problem for the Kremlin chief.
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski rejected Lavrov's requests on China's involvement. “We only need security guarantees from those countries that are ready to help us ”he said. Beijing has supported Moscow since the beginning of the Ukraine war through billions of euros and by providing electronic components for the manufacture of precision weapons. Also, the two countries maintain a partnership that they describe as “without borders ”.
According to the West, the security guarantees for Ukraine include a broad spectrum and not just military support in the case of the country, in accordance with the mutual assistance commitment provided for Article 5 of the NATO treaty. This can be seen in the statement of the G7 group of Western Economic Powers – including the US and Germany – from mid -July 2023 and in “Common security guarantees between the EU and Ukraine” from the end of July 2024.
According to the agreement, security guarantees also include training of Ukrainian armed forces, providing weapons, assistance in the development of the defense industry, intelligence information, sanctions, economic cooperation and the gradual accession of Ukraine to the EU.
Currently, Europeans are more interested in the immediate assurance of a possible cessation of fire or a peace agreement than for long -term military guarantees – Ukraine forming the first robust defense line, European countries and, possibly, non -European ones forming the second line of defense, and the US providing air support as the third line.
The EU high diplomats said that, unlike the past, drones could be used on the front line to monitor compliance with a cease. What happens if the cessation of fire is violated should be defined in a mandate. It would be to be conceived as – as in the case of monitoring by the Security and Cooperation Organization in Europe (OSCE) of Minsk agreements to resolve the conflict in Ukraine after the annexation of Crimea in 2014 – violations of fire termination should only be recorded and reported. However, a mandate could also be designed so that the soldiers intervene in the event of a conflict.
Concerns about the withdrawal of US troops from Europe
At the NATO headquarters in Brussels, the American troops withdrawal plans in Europe are looking forward to the withdrawal plans. Initially, it was expected that the US Secretary of State of the Ministry of Defense, Elbridge A. Colby, will present the plans in Brussels in the first half of September. Now it is not expected until after the end of the Russian-Wateruse maneuver “Sapad”, in mid -September.
As a result, Colby will probably not present his plans by the end of September at the earliest. NATO circles expect Washington to withdraw “40,000 to 70,000 out of a total of up to 100,000 soldiers” in Europe. Some American troops will then probably be carried out on the US territory to secure borders or maintain public safety in cities. It was also stated that the political orientations of the Alliance, as part of NATO defense planning could be adjusted earlier than originally provided for 2027. This could also mean new tasks for Bundeswehr.
