Paris, 5 March 2025 (dpa/MIA) - French President Emmanuel Macron is planning an international meeting next week on the possible deployment of peacekeeping troops in Ukraine.

"To ensure that Ukraine is not invaded by Russia again after a peace agreement, we must prepare for this," Macron said in a televised speech on Wednesday.

"Next week, we will gather in Paris the army chiefs of staff of the countries that wish to fulfil their responsibilities in this regard."

He added: "Ukraine has a right to peace and security for itself, and that is in our interest, that is in the interests of the security of the European continent. In this sense, we are working together with our friends in the UK, Germany and several other European countries."

Ukraine has been fending off a full-scale Russian invasion for three years. US President Donald Trump's decision to thaw relations with Moscow has spooked Europe, which is scrambling to try to help secure a ceasefire in Ukraine before the Kremlin becomes more emboldened.

A fall-out between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House last week also shocked Macron and his European partners, although Washington and Kiev have quickly made steps to ease the rift.

Macron used his address to also call for long-term support for the Ukrainian army.

Perhaps European armed forces would also be deployed for this purpose, he said.

"They would not fight today, they would not fight on the front line, but they would be there after the signing of the peace agreement to ensure that it is honoured," Macron continued.

Photo: MIA archive