Freezing hostilities in the coming months is technically impossible – Roman Svitan
NATO forces could potentially be deployed along the borders with Belarus and Transnistria, military expert Roman Svitan told OstroV in a commentary.
"As for freezing military actions in the coming months, I don’t believe in it. Technically, it’s impossible. Hostilities didn’t stop during Poroshenko’s presidency when there were 30,000 troops on both sides along a 400-km front. The Minsk agreements didn’t help, and all attempts to disengage the troops failed. Fighting continued for all five years. Now, with armies of at least half a million troops along a 1,500-km front, disengagement is technically impossible. That’s why I don’t understand the discussions about freezing hostilities—it’s simply not feasible", - Svitan explained.
Svitan is also skeptical about the idea of deploying NATO forces along the front lines.
"As for NATO troops on the line of contact, they can’t step in between the two armies. Who would allow them through? From which side would they enter? I think this is unrealistic. However, NATO troops could be deployed along the border between Ukraine and Belarus, or they could even be stationed on russian territory in the north of the country. This could create a demarcation line and protect Ukrainian territory from russian interference. But deploying NATO forces directly along the line of military contact on our territory would effectively cut off part of Ukraine, shield russian troops, and facilitate annexation—in other words, it would amount to Ukraine's capitulation", - he emphasized.
Additionally, according to Svitan, NATO troops could be stationed along the borders with Transnistria and Belarus.
"Our military, currently stationed there, could then be redeployed to the front line to increase troop density. However, given the current capabilities of both our forces and NATO troops, this scenario seems unlikely", - he concluded.
As previously reported, French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to discuss the deployment of peacekeeping forces in Ukraine with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Thursday, December 12, in the event of a cessation of the current phase of the war.