Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has backed the deployment of Western troops in Ukraine as one of the "best tools" to "force Russia into peace".
His statement came during a summit in Ramstein, Germany, AFP reported.
Zelensky claimed Europe was entering a "new chapter" of cooperation and would have "new opportunities" with Donald Trump's return to the White House later this month.
"Our goal is to find as many tools as possible to force Russia towards peace," the president said.
Referring to discussions about the possibility of NATO countries sending troops to Ukraine, he argued:
"I believe that such deployment of contingents of partners is one of the best tools. Let us be more practical in pursuing this option."
Zelensky did not specify whether he was talking about sending Western combat troops or peacekeepers as part of a possible agreement to end the nearly three-year-old war.
At today's meeting, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced about $500 million in new U.S. aid ahead of Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20.
"It is clear that a new chapter is beginning for Europe and the whole world -- in just 11 days, a time when we need to cooperate even more, rely even more on each other and achieve even greater results together", Zelensky said.
"I see this as a time of opportunity," he added.
The Ukrainian president also used the meeting to "urge" Ukraine's allies to help Kiev build an "arsenal of drones" to use against Russian forces on the front line and beyond.
"Drones are something that have already changed the nature of war. Drones deter the enemy - they keep him at a distance," Zelensky said.
His words came after Kiev struck an oil depot that supplies a Russian military airfield about 500 kilometers behind the countries' shared border.
Zelensky also called his troops' offensive in Russia's western Kursk region one of Ukraine's "biggest victories not only last year, but throughout the war." | BGNES
