In a recent development, French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that 26 nations have pledged to deploy troops to Ukraine as a "reassurance force" once the conflict with Russia concludes.
This commitment was made during a meeting in Paris, which was attended by 35 countries that have shown support for Ukraine. Macron clarified that the reassurance force is not intended to wage war against Russia, but rather to prevent any major aggression and ensure Ukraine's long-term security.
According to Breitbart, the meeting also included discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the U.S. envoy for peace talks, Steve Witkoff. The leaders deliberated on strategies to ensure continued American backing and long-term military support for Ukraine post-conflict.
Zelenskyy also held a private meeting with Witkoff.
While the specifics of U.S. involvement in the security guarantees remain uncertain, both Macron and Zelenskyy confirmed that Washington has expressed willingness to participate in the plan. "The planning work will be finalized with the United States," Macron stated. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for this commitment, though he refrained from divulging further details about the format of U.S. participation.
The European leaders, some of whom attended the meeting virtually, urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to work towards ending the conflict. The German government hinted at escalating European sanctions on Russia if Moscow continues to delay peace efforts.
Following their meeting, the European leaders also had a telephonic conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump.
British Prime Minister Starmer's office reported that the Prime Minister emphasized the group's unwavering commitment to Ukraine, backed by President Trump. He stressed the need to intensify pressure on Putin to secure a cessation of hostilities.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of economic pressure on Russia and the need for Europe to stop purchasing Russian oil and gas, which he claimed was funding the war.
Trump underscored that Russia received EUR1.1 billion in fuel sales from the EU in a single year, according to a White House official. He also urged European leaders to exert economic pressure on China for indirectly supporting Russia's war efforts.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz outlined three "areas of action," including working towards a summit that would include Zelenskyy, and the necessity of agreeing on a ceasefire. "If the Russian side continues to play for time, Europe will increase the pressure of sanctions to increase the chances of a diplomatic solution," a statement from the German government said.
Zelenskyy expressed the need for a meeting with Putin, stating, "This is not a matter of a desire, this is a matter of necessity." He added that Russia seems to be delaying such a meeting.
Putin, who is backed by China in his war effort but isolated by Western leaders, expressed optimism about reaching a settlement if "common sense prevails."
Earlier this month, the U.S. signaled its readiness to support security guarantees for Ukraine that resemble NATOs collective defense mandate, according to Zelenskyy. However, the specifics of this support remain unclear. Ukraine hopes for continued U.S. intelligence sharing and air support.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte emphasized the need for a broad coalition of nations to support Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression and to strengthen Europe to deter further military action by Moscow. He warned against being naive about Russia, stating, "We know what Putin tries to do and the evidence is there in Ukraine as we speak."
In the meantime, Ukraine continues to face Russian aggression. The country's Air Force reported that Russia fired 112 strike and decoy drones across Ukraine overnight, 84 of which were intercepted or jammed.
Furthermore, Russia announced the expulsion of an Estonian diplomat, a retaliatory move after Estonia declared a Russian diplomat persona non grata last month.
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