Turkey Signals Readiness for Ukraine Reassurance Mission

Turkey on Thursday announced its readiness to join a proposed “reassurance force” that could be deployed in Ukraine following any eventual peace agreement with Russia.

In a statement, the defence ministry said the Turkish Armed Forces were prepared to contribute to initiatives aimed at ensuring regional security and stability.

The ministry stressed that a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine would be the essential first step. Once achieved, it said, a clear mission framework would be needed, outlining objectives and defining the responsibilities of each participating nation.

The proposal gained momentum after French President Emmanuel Macron announced a new joint task force on Tuesday to design the structure of the multinational reassurance mission. He said the force would act as a “second line of defence” once a ceasefire is in place.

According to Macron, the effort will be led by France and the United Kingdom, with significant involvement from Turkey due to its strategic role in maritime security, and, for the first time, participation from the United States.

Turkey, which has the second-largest army in NATO, has previously said it is willing to deploy troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping mission “if deemed necessary.”