Switzerland may be able to deploy troops for a future peacekeeping operation in Ukraine, contingent upon a formal request and government approval, according to Swiss armed forces chief Thomas Suessli in an interview released on Sunday.

Suessli indicated to the SonntagsBlick newspaper that the country could potentially mobilize approximately 200 soldiers within a timeframe of nine to twelve months. However, he emphasized that any decision would ultimately rest with the government and parliament should a request be made.

He noted that discussions regarding the deployment of peacekeepers are currently speculative, as the future dynamics between Russia and Ukraine remain uncertain. “There is no peace at this time, and no request has been made by the United Nations,” Suessli remarked.

Switzerland, maintaining its neutral stance, is involved in various peacekeeping missions globally, with its largest contingent stationed in Kosovo, where it supports NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR). European nations have been contemplating the option of sending peacekeepers to Ukraine as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict, which has persisted since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.