China has firmly rejected media reports suggesting the country expressed readiness to join international peacekeeping forces for Ukraine in case of a ceasefire, calling such claims inaccurate.

According to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun, quoted by local media, “these reports do not correspond to reality. China’s position on the Ukrainian crisis is consistent and clear.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has inserted Moscow’s position into the debate, stating that any agreement without Russian and possibly Chinese participation in discussions about Western-sought security guarantees would be impossible.

“The West understands very well that serious discussion about security guarantees without the Russian Federation is utopia,” Lavrov said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected both Lavrov’s demands for Chinese participation and the broader concept of involving Beijing.

“We need security guarantees only from those countries that are ready to help us,” Zelenskyy stated, pointing to China’s continued support for Russia. 

“Coalition of the willing” discusses sending peacekeepers to Ukraine

The peacekeeping discussion has gained renewed attention following diplomatic developments between the United States and Russia. US President’s Special Representative Steve Witkoff indicated that during an Alaska meeting on 15 August, Putin and Trump reached agreement on “reliable security guarantees” for Ukraine, including protections comparable to NATO’s Article 5.

Subsequently, what officials termed a “coalition of the willing,” mainly involving European countries such as France and Britain, expressed readiness to contribute to Ukraine’s security guarantees by deploying military personnel on Ukrainian territory.

However, the extent of American support remains unclear. Trump emphasized that the US would not deploy its own military forces while not ruling out logistical support such as “air transportation” for allied forces.

What security guarantees Ukraine needs

The broader Western security framework being discussed extends beyond military assistance to include:

• training Ukrainian forces
• weapons deliveries
• defense industry development assistance
• intelligence sharing
• sanctions
• economic cooperation
• Ukraine’s gradual EU accession.

Senior EU diplomats indicated that ceasefire monitoring could rely primarily on drone technology rather than traditional frontline deployment, with response protocols for violations still requiring definition in any mandate.

Zelenskyy indicated after White House meetings on 18 August that security guarantees should include American weapons systems that Ukraine cannot produce domestically, specifically mentioning aircraft and air defense systems.