US President Donald Trump has reportedly proposed deploying Chinese peacekeepers to Ukraine to monitor a potential ceasefire between Russian and Ukrainian forces. According to the Financial Times, the suggestion was made during a meeting at the White House last week, involving European leaders and Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelensky. The troops would be stationed in a neutral zone along the 1,300km front line as part of a peace settlement with Russia.

However, a senior Trump administration official has dismissed the report as “false,” stating that there has been no discussion on the matter. The idea has also met with resistance from EU nations, and was previously rejected by Zelensky, who cited China’s failure to prevent the conflict in 2014 and 2022.

Previous reports have suggested that US, Ukrainian, and European officials have discussed the concept of a demilitarized zone patrolled by neutral peacekeepers as the first layer of a peace settlement. Alternatively, deploying Western troops for this purpose has also been considered, although Moscow is opposed to this idea.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has denied reports that Beijing had expressed willingness to join a potential international peacekeeping force in Ukraine. Since the start of the conflict, China has positioned itself as a neutral actor, calling on both sides to end hostilities and promoting a sustainable political settlement.

Russia has indicated that it does not oppose Western security guarantees for Ukraine in principle, but insists that any arrangement must be supported by UN Security Council permanent members, including China. Moscow has opposed the deployment of NATO troops to Ukraine, arguing that the expansion of the bloc’s military infrastructure towards Russia’s borders was a key reason for the conflict.

The proposal for Chinese peacekeepers in Ukraine comes as the international community continues to seek a resolution to the ongoing conflict. With various ideas and proposals being discussed, the situation remains complex and sensitive, requiring careful consideration and cooperation from all parties involved.