Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on Western allies to deploy troops to Ukraine. This request comes as North Korea’s military deployment to Russia has accelerated ties between the two nations. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping, showcasing the strengthening China-Russia relationship.
According to AFP and other international news outlets, Zelenskyy stated at the UDCG meeting held at Ramstein Air Base that their objective is to identify as many means as possible to compel Russia towards peace. He believes that deploying contingents from their partners is the most effective approach.
Zelenskyy cited France’s proposal to deploy contingents to Ukraine last year and urged more concrete steps to make this a reality. He noted that some partners, including the United Kingdom, have given positive signals.
The Ukrainian leader did not specify whether he requested combat troops or peacekeepers contingent on a ceasefire. In a recent interview, Zelenskyy expressed support for deploying peacekeepers to ensure compliance with a potential peace agreement.
He emphasized that they would spare no effort to end the war honorably for Ukraine and all of Europe. He pointed out that Putin’s alliance with North Korea demonstrates his weakness, highlighting that North Korea shows little regard for its citizens and, to their knowledge, has lost 4,000 troops to date.
The UDCG, a U.S.-led ministerial-level forum established following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has been a platform for Zelenskyy to appeal for various forms of support regularly.
In Moscow, Putin announced his intention to speak with Xi shortly. Russian state media outlets TASS and RIA Novosti reported on Putin’s statement during a virtual government meeting, “My counterpart, the Chinese leader, and I will have a phone conversation soon.”
Putin and Xi, who have showcased their strategic partnership to counter Western influence, last spoke in person in February. They have also met in person during Putin’s state visit to China and at summits of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the BRICS.
Civilian casualties in the Ukraine conflict have reportedly exceeded 10,000. At a recent UN Human Rights Council meeting, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif reported approximately 12,300 civilian deaths in Ukraine over nearly three years of conflict. She cautioned that this figure only includes confirmed fatalities, suggesting the actual toll could be significantly higher.
Notably, civilian deaths in Ukraine from September to November last year reached 574, marking a 30% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. Analysts attribute this surge to the increased use of long-range missiles and drones, as well as a rise in the execution of prisoners.
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