Turkey Weighs Troop Deployment for Ukraine Peacekeeping Mission

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey is considering contributing troops to a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, according to a Turkish defense ministry official on March 6. The source indicated that any contribution would depend on its necessity for regional stability and would involve discussions with relevant parties.

Turkey, holding the second-largest army in NATO after the United States, has not yet made any concrete decisions regarding troop deployment. ‘The concept has not yet been clearly defined,’ the source stated, speaking on condition of anonymity.

European military powers Britain and France have already shown interest in deploying troops to Ukraine following a peace settlement, while the U.S. has announced it will not send American forces. Ukraine believes a significant military presence is crucial for security guarantees in any peace agreement, while Russia has opposed NATO member troop deployments.

During separate meetings in Ankara last month, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov about the potential of a Turkish troop deployment. Turkey has generally maintained positive relations with both Russia and Ukraine throughout the ongoing conflict, despite historical rivalries.

Moreover, Turkey has not participated in Western sanctions against Russia and has played a mediating role in previous negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow, including facilitating Ukrainian grain exports from the Black Sea. If Turkey does proceed with troop deployment, the source emphasized that a ceasefire must first be declared, and initial forces would likely be non-combatant units to supervise ceasefire adherence.

The Turkish defense source’s remarks come amidst rising tensions between Ukraine and Russia, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv. European Union leaders recently met with President Zelensky in Brussels to discuss bolstering defenses as the situation evolves.

As Russia continues its offensive operations, including missile strikes on Ukrainian territory, Ukrainian officials are voicing concerns over the implications of reduced support from the U.S. A Ukrainian soldier expressed that the pause in military assistance has been detrimental, stating, ‘It’s going to be very hard.’