Canada studies how to join Ukraine peacekeeping force — including end to training mission in country
CBC
Detailed planning for a potential "coalition of the willing" peacekeeping mission to Ukraine is expected to kick off this week among Western military commanders, says the Canadian general in charge of overseas and domestic operations.
The notion of a peacekeeping force is being met internationally with skepticism as Ukraine and Russia meet indirectly to hammer out a limited ceasefire.
Lt.-Gen. Steve Boivin suggested Canada would be stretched to contribute, but it's possible if the troops that are training Ukrainian forces are re-purposed for peacekeeping.
He told CBC News that a preliminary gathering of senior military commanders from 28 nations that have expressed a willingness to contribute to the force — to be deployed in the event of a ceasefire — was held last week in the United Kingdom.
Boivin took part in the discussions.
Indirect ceasefire negotiations between Russia and Ukraine began on Monday in Saudi Arabia, an effort mediated by the United States. The two countries have agreed in principle to a one-month halt on strikes on energy infrastructure after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week, but there's uncertainty over how it will take effect.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer several weeks ago proposed a peacekeeping force made up of several NATO countries, including Canada.
In early March, prior to Sunday's federal election call, Defence Minister Bill Blair said Canada was 'ready and able' to contribute troops should there be a ceasefire.
"I'll emphasize that we don't know what the conditions of such a ceasefire could be. So we are working off a number of assumptions and developing contingency plans," Boivin said. "The overall aim is to offer options to decision-makers."
Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, last weekend dismissed Starmer's peacekeeping plan as "posture and pose."
At the same time, several U.K. media reported Monday that top British military commanders — quoted anonymously — say the prime minister has gotten out ahead of himself. They said detailed planning won't be completed by April 20 — the White House deadline for a ceasefire.
It is evident it will be a struggle for Canada to contribute.
Canada is in the midst of an election and should the new government agree to deploy peacekeepers, it is faced with the reality there aren't a lot of Canadian troops to go around.
The military has been struggling to refill the ranks following the COVID-19 pandemic and a sexual misconduct crisis that affected a number senior commanders.
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