In a significant diplomatic development, the United States has for the first time endorsed a broad coalition of Ukraine's allies in a pledge to provide binding security guarantees for the country. This landmark commitment aims to reassure Kyiv in the event of a future ceasefire with Russia.
A Coalition of the Willing Gathers in Paris
The pledge was made at a summit in Paris on Tuesday, a gathering of what leaders termed a "coalition of the willing" composed mainly of European nations. The meeting marked a notable shift in the US position, underscored by the attendance of American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former President Donald Trump, alongside America's top general in Europe.
Steve Witkoff, who has led talks with Russia, stated after the summit that Donald Trump "strongly stands behind security protocols." He emphasised the strength of these measures, designed to deter and defend against any future attacks on Ukraine. Witkoff declared that the allies have "largely finished" agreeing on the security guarantees, though he noted territorial issues remain a problematic area for negotiations.
Jared Kushner added that for any final deal to be viable, Ukrainians must have confidence in their security afterwards, with "robust deterrence" and real backstops to prevent future conflict.
Concrete Commitments and Russian Resistance
The summit yielded more than just promises. Britain and France declared they are prepared to deploy troops to Ukraine following a peace deal, a major commitment that has been under discussion for months. French President Emmanuel Macron specified that "several thousand" French soldiers could be involved in post-ceasefire peacekeeping.
Furthermore, coalition leaders agreed to participate in a proposed US-led ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism. Officials indicated this would likely utilise technology like drones, sensors, and satellites rather than deploying American troops on the ground.
However, Moscow has shown no public indication it would accept a peace deal featuring these security guarantees. Russia has consistently rejected any scenario involving NATO member troops inside Ukraine. Concurrently, President Vladimir Putin, attending an Orthodox Christmas service, hailed his troops' "holy mission" to defend Russia.
Kyiv's Response and Ongoing Conflict
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the agreements, calling them a serious signal of Europe's commitment to "real security." He highlighted the concrete nature of the declarations and thanked the United States for its readiness to act as a backstop in security, ceasefire monitoring, and reconstruction.
Zelenskyy noted that details on monitoring implementation and ongoing military support still need to be determined. The war continued on the ground, with the governor of Russia's Belgorod region reporting a Ukrainian drone attack that set oil storage tanks ablaze late on Tuesday. No casualties were reported.
The Paris summit represents a crucial, unified step by Ukraine's Western allies to plan for a durable post-conflict security architecture, even as the path to a ceasefire remains fraught with challenges.
