A total of 26 countries have committed to providing Ukraine with security guarantees after the war, including potential deployment of international forces on land, sea, and air, French President Emmanuel Macron announced following a summit of European leaders. The meeting also sought to clarify the level of support U.S. President Donald Trump is prepared to offer Kyiv.
“The day the conflict ends, security guarantees will be implemented,” Macron said during a press conference at the Élysée Palace in Paris, alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Scope of the Security Guarantees
- Macron confirmed that 26 countries have officially pledged support, with some additional states yet to announce their positions.
- Troops will not be stationed on the front line but will aim to prevent any new large-scale aggression.
- Some countries may offer assistance outside Ukraine, such as training and equipping Kyiv’s forces, instead of direct deployment.
President Zelenskyy welcomed the commitment, calling it “the first serious, concrete step in a long time.”
U.S. Involvement and Reactions
- Macron indicated that U.S. contributions to the security guarantees will be finalized in the coming days.
- The Kremlin has expressed strong opposition. Dmitry Peskov, Russian presidential spokesperson, said the Western pledges “cannot serve as a security guarantee for Ukraine that suits our country.”
Context and European Concerns
- The summit, involving 35 leaders from the “coalition of the willing,” focused on finalizing post-war security guarantees and securing U.S. support to ensure their effectiveness.
- Some European nations, including Germany, Spain, and Italy, have so far declined troop commitments, emphasizing funding, weapons, and training as the primary form of assistance.
- European leaders reportedly traveled to the White House after the August summit in Alaska with Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, fearing that the U.S. president might pressure Zelenskyy into humiliating concessions, including territorial losses.
