The possibility of deploying UN peacekeeping forces in Ukraine remains "very hypothetical" at this stage, said the head of the organization's peacekeeping operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, quoted by AFP, reports News.bg.
European countries are discussing various plans for a possible ceasefire in the war between Russia and Ukraine, including the possibility of sending international peacekeeping forces. Despite these discussions, Lacroix stressed that the UN is not planning such a mission and has not received any official requests in this direction.
"I think it is fair to say that this is very, very hypothetical", he told reporters in Brussels. "The issue is on the agenda and we are considering it, but we are not in the planning stage."
Russia has also raised the question of the role of the UN in a potential peace deal. The Russian negotiator in the latest round of talks with the United States said on Tuesday that Moscow would seek to include the UN in the process, but did not specify what its role would be.
Lacroix stressed that any UN peacekeeping mission must first receive approval from the Security Council.
"We are not authorized to plan such an operation and there is currently no basis on which we could do so," he said.
Meanwhile, a summit of the so-called "coalition of the willing", which includes France and Britain, will be held in Paris on Thursday. It is expected to discuss options for a diplomatic solution to the conflict.