Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Asserts Absence of Definitive Security Pledge from European Partners
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine's partners in Europe have not given him concrete pledges that they will protect his country in the event of a fresh offensive by Russia.
"I am asking this very question to every one of our allies and I have not received a definitive and straightforward response yet," he stated to the press on midweek.
His comments come a day after the UK and France signed a statement of purpose on deploying troops in Ukraine if a peace deal to conclude the conflict with Moscow is reached.
However, full security guarantees have not been agreed. The US, which has been leading efforts to end the invasion, was reported to have abstained from signing such a commitment at discussions held in the French capital on Tuesday.
Details of the Paris Talks
After the Paris talks, which involved some three dozen nations that comprise the group termed the 'Coalition of the Willing', UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK and France would "establish military hubs across Ukraine" to deter future invasion, while France's President Macron later said a significant number of soldiers may be deployed.
Allies proposed that the US would assume a leading role in monitoring a truce. But the central sticking point of territorial concessions that Ukraine is being asked to grant to Russia as a component of the settlement terms are continuing to be negotiated.
The Russian government has not yet commented on the declaration made in the French capital.
President Putin launched a comprehensive military assault of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukraine's land.
The President's Evolving Stance
Sir Keir described the bilateral declaration as "a vital part of our dedication to support Ukraine for the long-term".
He added: "It establishes the pathway for the juridical structure under which allied military personnel could function on Ukraine's territory, securing Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's military for the years to come."
Zelensky hailed that agreement as a "significant leap of progress".
Twenty-four hours afterward, however, he appeared less optimistic.
"I see the will, the political will, and that the partners are ready, and the allies are willing to give us strong sanctions, powerful defense assurances," he said when questioned if nations in Europe would defend Ukraine.
"But as long as we lack such binding security pacts - legally binding, supported by parliaments, backed by the U.S. Congress - this question cannot be answered. And should they materialize, you still have to rely primarily on your own strength."
Persistent Challenges and Fighting
Negotiations in Paris were also notable due to the attendance of US President Donald Trump's peace envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
One envoy stated the participating countries "mostly completed" their work on finalizing security arrangements.
Last week, Zelensky said a settlement was "90% ready".
Questions of land and security guarantees have been at the forefront of outstanding matters for negotiators.
The Russian leader has consistently stated that Ukraine's military must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Moscow will take control, rejecting any compromise over how to end the war.
The Ukrainian President has thus far rejected relinquishing any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an established line - but only if Russia reciprocated the action.
Moscow currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast, and some nearly all of the adjacent Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the industrial Donbas region.
It has been intensifying attacks against Ukrainian cities - with a focus on power facilities. Russia has also made slow progress in capturing more Ukrainian territory.
Ukrainian forces have retaliated at Russian targets with drones, though with more limited success.
