French President Emmanuel Macron has announced plans to deploy troops from NATO countries in Ukraine, but only after a peace agreement is signed, UNIAN reported, citing his interview with RTL.

Macron said that after a ceasefire agreement is signed between Kiev and Moscow, there are plans to deploy “security forces” away from the front lines, in cities such as Kiev or Odessa.

These peacekeeping forces will include British, French and Turkish military personnel, whose task will be to train Ukrainian forces and ensure security – similar to how NATO countries are already helping countries on the alliance’s eastern flank.

Macron stressed that this would be done within the framework of an intergovernmental coalition, not within NATO, and that approximately twenty countries were ready to contribute - by land, sea or air. He also stressed that “there cannot be a sustainable peace if the Ukrainian army is limited in its ability to defend itself and deter any aggression“. Macron said that the French people should not panic because no French troops would be sent while fighting was taking place in Ukraine. Furthermore, the planned deployment of French troops would be far from the front lines.