[RIA Novosti] The EU is close to discussing the issue of sending a peacekeeping contingent to Ukraine, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said. And thus turned to a taboo topic within the European Union. About what this can lead to - in the material of RIA Novosti.
"THE PREVIOUSLY UNCROSSABLE BORDER"
“We are close to the fact that in the conversations of European leaders, the question of whether EU member states can send troops of some kind of peacekeeping type (to Ukraine. — Approx. ed.) or better not to send has become legitimate and accepted. We are close to this previously uncrossable border," Orban said.
He recalled that only a year ago in Brussels they discussed the possibility of providing Kiev with lethal weapons.
“The Hungarians both then and now said no. But the countries of the West also hesitated. Now this is not a question. The only question is tanks or how many aircraft, or shells with uranium-containing elements, or troops,” the Hungarian leader said.
"DANGEROUS SUBJECT"
Peacekeeping operations with European security forces - EUFOR - were carried out in Macedonia , Bosnia and Herzegovina, in African countries: Sudan , Congo, Chad and the Central African Republic . And the troops of individual European states participated in almost all UN missions .
But sending the Blue Helmets requires a decision by the Security Council. And without Moscow, it cannot be accepted: as one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, Russia has the right to veto.
THE KREMLIN REACTED COLDLY TO THE IDEA OF "PEACEKEEPERS".
"This is a potentially extremely dangerous discussion. You know that such forces in world practice are usually used with the consent of both sides, in this case, this is potentially a very dangerous topic," Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said.
Without the consent of Russia, the arrival of any armed forces of third countries in the conflict zone will become an intervention - as, for example, in Iraq .
CONTROVERSY OVER AID TO UKRAINE
Whether the EU will be able to reach an agreement, at least among themselves, is unknown. But the precedents are disappointing.
Kyiv was armed long before the Russian special operation. Mostly infantry weapons - portable anti-tank and anti-aircraft missile systems.
After the breakdown of negotiations in Istanbul, they began to transfer artillery and MLRS to Kiev. Then - Soviet-made tanks, planes and helicopters from the former Warsaw Pact countries.
Western tanks were discussed for a long time. Washington denied the Abrams, but put pressure on the allies to help the Armed Forces of Ukraine with their equipment.
France announced the delivery of AMX-10RC wheeled tanks in early January. Then the UK promised the Challenger 2. After that, the White House managed to get Berlin to agree to the transfer of Leopards - both from the Bundeswehr and from other European countries. At the same time , Germany demanded that the United States share the Abrams.
American equipment will arrive by the end of the year. But "Leopards" are already in Ukraine. And recently London announced that the Challengers would be equipped with depleted uranium ammunition.
More and more actively discussing the supply of NATO aviation. The Americans are back again. Like, the Armed Forces of Ukraine do not have the appropriate infrastructure for the F-16.
But there are other options as well. Last week, Le Figaro wrote about the training of three dozen Ukrainian pilots for the Mirage 2000. True, the Ministry of Defense denied this information, explaining everything by training to counter air defense.
A NEW ROUND OF ESCALATION
Orban's statement brings into the information field the topic of the participation of European troops in the confrontation with Russia. Escalation to such an extent makes even the darkest scenarios real.
As Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine, points out, the armed forces of NATO countries cannot be considered a peacekeeping contingent.
"This will be an open military intervention of the North Atlantic Alliance in the conflict in order to interfere with the NVO," he emphasizes. "What the Hungarian prime minister said is impossible."
According to the expert, we are talking about direct military aggression with all the ensuing consequences.