They are visible from space.

Au moment géopolitique le plus dangereux depuis la Deuxième Guerre mondiale (Ukraine, Gaza, Liban, Mer Rouge, Indo-Pacifique), les États Unis lancent une guerre économique inutile contre leurs partenaires les plus proches. J’entends rire Poutine et Xi.

Given the importance of discussions about peacekeeping scenarios in Ukraine, it is imperative that they be realistic and lead to a stable peace. Anything else will perpetuate the current cycle of aggression-fake peace - aggression.

Impossible? Then arm Ukraine sufficiently to begin pushing Russia eastward while applying economic pressure through effective sanctions until Russia is unable to continue and seeks peace terms from Ukraine. Then, bring Ukraine under NATO Article 5 protection.

Many have scoffed at Volodymir Zelenskyy’s demand for 200,000 peacekeepers. This is only unreasonable if we think that Russia will act in ways convenient to the West. The peacekeeping force must be able to stop Russian aggression despite conflicts elsewhere.

For this deterrent force to be available, the rest of the world needs to be stable. An unbeaten Russia’s will either await or conspire in creating a blowup in the Indo-Pacific or Middle East as a backdrop for its next aggression. It would be reckless for the West to ignore this.

Russia has 1,5 million active soldiers. If 50,000 peacekeepers are to hold off even a quarter of Russia’s army (roughly the number used in February 2022), the peacekeepers need to be backed up by a much larger ground or strike force instantly at the ready to deter Russia.