European, Australian, Lithuanian Leaders Plan Ukraine Peacekeeping Roles

French President Emmanuel Macron has advocated for European military forces to participate in peacekeeping operations in Ukraine, emphasizing the need for a strong Ukrainian army supported by allied boots on the ground. Macron warned that any peace agreement without security guarantees would fail, citing past conflicts where Russia did not honor commitments, and noted skepticism about Moscow's willingness for peace. A high-level European delegation, including leaders from the EU, NATO, and the UK, engaged with U.S. President Donald Trump, who Macron suggested would support sanctions on Russia if necessary. Meanwhile, Australia, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, expressed openness to contributing peacekeeping forces to Ukraine contingent on a peace settlement but ruled out sending combat troops. Lithuania also announced readiness to deploy peacekeeping forces comparable in size to its previous NATO mission in Afghanistan, with a focus on both peacekeeping and training Ukrainian troops. These developments reflect growing international discussions about coordinated post-conflict security arrangements for Ukraine.