Part 9/13:
A key obstacle is Russia’s outright rejection of European troops on Ukrainian soil, regardless of whether they operate under NATO or national flags. Moscow has explicitly rejected Western involvement and even floated China as an alternative peacekeeping force—an unusual proposition indicating Putin’s preference for Beijing’s role in Ukraine’s future. He has previously shown a willingness to engage with China in certain security arrangements, suggesting that Russia might prefer a multi-party approach to the conflict resolution.