Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that at least 200,000 allied troops would be required to enforce any peace deal in Ukraine, as he urged European nations to take greater responsibility for their own defence. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Ukrainian president asserted that Europe must establish itself as a “strong, global player” and an “indispensable” one, rather than waiting to see what United States President Donald Trump might do next.
Zelenskyy highlighted the involvement of North Korean troops in Russia’s war against Ukraine, noting that fighting in the Kursk region is geographically closer to Davos than to Pyongyang. He argued that European leaders should recognise the proximity of the threat and act collectively. He also outlined how an international peacekeeping operation could function if an agreement were reached, telling an interview panel that a European-led force of 200,000 was the minimum needed.
The Ukrainian president ruled out reducing Ukraine’s army to one-fifth of its current 800,000-strong size, a demand reportedly made by the Kremlin. “This is what he [Putin] wants. We will not allow this to happen,” he said, adding that his team were working on arranging a meeting with Trump. Trump, who promised to end the conflict quickly, said after his inauguration that Vladimir Putin was “destroying” Russia and should make a deal.
Zelenskyy stressed that any ceasefire agreement would depend on Western security assurances, with Nato membership described as the “best guarantee”. That option is supported by most European Nato members but opposed by the US, Germany, Hungary and Slovakia. In recent weeks, Zelenskyy has held talks with several European partners about a possible peacekeeping mission, including French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who visited Kyiv last week. Talks have also taken place with Poland and the Baltic states.
Speaking during his visit to Kyiv, Starmer said the UK was ready “to play our full part”, though he did not commit British troops to any future deployment. In his Davos speech, Zelenskyy urged EU countries to increase spending on technology and defence, particularly drones and modern air defence systems. He warned that Russia had mobilised 600,000 troops in Ukraine and could muster 1.5 million, adding that if Putin were not stopped, he would return with an army ten times larger and target other former Soviet states.
