Ukraine’s allies agree to ‘robust’ security guarantees in push to end war
UK and France could deploy troops on Ukrainian territory after a ceasefire, but a big question mark hangs over Russia’s response
Ukraine’s Western allies on Tuesday agreed to key security guarantees for Kyiv including a US-led monitoring mechanism and a European multinational force that would be deployed after a ceasefire in Russia’s war against its neighbour.
Following the largest meeting yet of the so-called Coalition of the Willing in Paris, both European leaders and US envoys hailed progress that hid tensions in recent days over assertive US foreign policy in the western hemisphere under US President Donald Trump.
But the security guarantees for Ukraine would only come into force once a ceasefire was agreed to end the almost four-year war sparked by Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of its neighbour. Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s intentions remain unclear.
The “robust” guarantees would see the United States lead a truce monitoring mechanism with European participation, French President Emmanuel Macron said after the meeting which gathered representatives of 35 countries, including 27 heads of state or government.
Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky signed a declaration of intent that foresees Britain, France and other European allies deploying troops on Ukrainian territory after a ceasefire.