Additional Coverage:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed openness to the deployment of Western troops in Ukraine to bolster the country’s security and facilitate its path to NATO membership.
However, Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine must have clear timelines for joining both the European Union and NATO before any troop deployment can proceed.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has sought a ceasefire in Ukraine but has yet to take an official stance on Ukraine’s NATO membership.
Meanwhile, outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden continues to support Ukraine’s military efforts.
The deployment of Western troops in Ukraine remains a contentious issue, with concerns about escalating the conflict with Russia. Germany and Poland have already ruled out sending troops, while France has suggested the idea but without specifying which nations would participate.
Ukraine’s forces are currently facing a heavy Russian offensive in the Donetsk region, with Russia launching numerous guided bombs, attack drones, and missiles. Zelenskyy has thanked the U.S. for its recent military aid and expressed his desire for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s challenger, Friedrich Merz, has called for providing Ukraine with long-range missiles to strike Russian military targets, a position that differs from Scholz’s cautious approach. Merz’s bloc is currently leading in German opinion polls ahead of the upcoming election.