As the devastating war in Ukraine edges toward a fragile ceasefire, recently reinforced by maritime and energy truces brokered in Riyadh, the question of a more enduring peace looms large, along with a related question: who will oversee its implementation?
Peace seems to be in prospect, as both sides appear weary of a long-drawn out attritional conflict. The recent Black Sea deal follows talks initiated by United States President Donald Trump, who has vowed to swiftly end the war that has now entered its fourth year.
While western leaders, notably France’s President Emmanuel Macron and Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, have floated the idea of a European-led peacekeeping force, this proposition is rife with challenges and contradictions. Russia has made it clear that no troops from North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member-countries would be welcome, and most of Europe is already in NATO. A peacekeeping force whose very presence would be seen as a casus belli is evidently a non-starter.
It is time for the Global South — a coalition of nations from Africa, Asia, and Latin America — to rise to the occasion and offer to lead a United Nations-backed peacekeeping mission in Ukraine. Doing so would not only ensure credibility and neutrality but also symbolise the emergence of the Global South as an indispensable force in shaping global stability.
The perils of a European peacekeeping force
Europe’s enthusiasm for spearheading peacekeeping in Ukraine appears, at first glance, logical — its proximity to the conflict and its strategic stake in the region make it a natural candidate. While promoting a “coalition of the willing”, Mr. Starmer has already promised to send British troops as part of any post-war peacekeeping operation. Yet, this logic crumbles under the weight of Russia’s vehement opposition. Moscow views a European-led force as a NATO Trojan horse, a thinly veiled ploy to expand the alliance’s reach into Ukraine. Such a deployment would not only exacerbate tensions but also risk transforming peacekeepers into catalysts for further conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declared during a recent visit to Qatar that it would only “further fuel the conflict and stop any attempts to calm it down”.
Moreover, European public opinion is far from aligned with the ambitions of its leaders. Polls reveal widespread resistance to deploying troops in what would undoubtedly be a perilous theatre of operations. When Mr. Macron first suggested French troops for such an endeavour earlier this year, opinion polls showed an overwhelming majority of French citizens opposing the idea. Even if political will is mustered, the logistical realities of sustaining such a mission without heavy reliance on U.S. support — which, in the Trump era, may or may not be available — would expose Europe’s limitations. In a conflict fraught with delicate balances, the stakes are too high to gamble on an arrangement perceived as partial and provocative.
The Global South has the credentials
The presence of NATO troops along the front line with Russian forces, even in a peacekeeping capacity, heightens the chances of a broader confrontation, a risk the international community can ill afford. In stark contrast, the Global South offers a compelling alternative. Unlike Europe, nations from Africa, Asia, and Latin America have largely maintained a principled neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This impartiality — symbolised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugging both Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, two weeks apart — grants them the moral high ground, making them uniquely positioned to maintain the trust of both Kyiv and Moscow. A peacekeeping mission led by the Global South would not only de-escalate tensions but also inject a much-needed sense of fairness into the proceedings.
The Global South’s credentials are far from theoretical. The African Union (AU)’s record of peacekeeping, whether in Sudan, Somalia, or the Central African Republic, speaks volumes about its ability to navigate volatile environments. Similarly, BRICS member countries such as Brazil, India, South Africa and Indonesia have demonstrated their diplomatic acumen and operational expertise in UN peacekeeping missions. Even smaller nations such as Chile bring specialised skills, such as demining, which are crucial for Ukraine’s reconstruction. Their track record in UN peacekeeping missions strengthens their credibility as potential leaders in Ukraine’s stabilisation efforts.
For a Global South-led peacekeeping mission to succeed, several conditions must be met. A robust and well-defined ceasefire agreement is, of course, a prerequisite. Equally critical is the demarcation of a clear front line, a task demanding meticulous negotiations. Financial and logistical support from western nations, particularly the European Union, would bolster the mission’s capacity. All of these would be available if the operation was authorised by the United Nations Security Council and enjoyed the approval and co-operation of both parties to the conflict. Crucially, excluding NATO troops entirely would assuage Russian concerns and underscore the mission’s neutrality. Finally, as India demonstrated in Liberia, the inclusion of female peacekeepers, whose presence has been shown to foster community trust and address gender-based violence, a persistent issue in conflict zones, would further enhance the initiative’s legitimacy.
India, with its storied legacy in UN peacekeeping, is especially well-placed to take a leadership role. Having contributed over 2,90,000 peacekeepers to more than 50 UN missions, India’s experience is unparalleled. Currently, more than 5,000 Indian peacekeepers are deployed in nine of the 11 active peace operations. In 2007, India became the first country to deploy an all-women police contingent to a peacekeeping mission, in war-torn Liberia. More than 160 Indian peacekeepers have paid the ultimate price serving under the UN flag so far — the highest number for any troop-contributing country.
It was no accident that then UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali turned to India to lead the UN peace-keeping operation in the former Yugoslavia in 1992. As in that situation, India’s neutral stance in the Ukraine conflict and its balanced relationships with Russia, the West, and Ukraine make it a natural choice to spearhead this effort. There is a strong case for India to shed its reticence and step forward with the assertiveness the moment demands.
Meanwhile, China has been far more proactive, positioning itself as a potential peacemaker despite its close ties to Moscow. Beijing has also appointed a seasoned diplomat as its special envoy for Ukraine, whereas India has yet to take comparable steps.
The broader imperative
A peacekeeping mission in Ukraine under the auspices of the United Nations offers more than just a pathway to stability in Eastern Europe. It is an opportunity for the Global South to assert its rightful place at the high table of international diplomacy. For decades, this grouping — still too inchoate to be termed a bloc — has been relegated to the margins of global decision-making, its voice often drowned out by the cacophony of western powers. Taking the lead in Ukraine would signal a shift, a bold declaration that the Global South is not merely a passive observer but an active shaper of the world order.
As we stand at this historic juncture, the choice is clear. The task of securing peace in Ukraine cannot be left to actors whose partiality risks undermining the very truce they are meant to protect. It is time for the Global South to seize the mantle of leadership, offering a vision of peace that is inclusive, credible, and enduring. A peacekeeping mission in Ukraine under the UN. banner would provide the global body with a crucial opportunity to reaffirm its role in maintaining international peace and security. For India, active participation in such an effort would not only cement its standing as a global power but also affirm its growing influence in shaping international diplomacy.
Shashi Tharoor, is a fourth-term Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), Congress party, and is the award-winning author of 26 books, including ‘Pax Indica: India and the World of the 21st Century’. As a senior United Nations official, he led the team responsible for peace-keeping operations in the former Yugoslavia. E.D. Mathew is a former United Nations spokesperson. He has been part of the United Nations peacekeeping missions in Timor-Leste and Liberia
Published – April 05, 2025 12:16 am IST