French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that 26 countries have pledged to take part in a multinational “reassurance force” to be deployed in Ukraine if a peace agreement or ceasefire with Russia is reached, marking what he called the first concrete step toward guaranteeing Kyiv’s long-term security.
The force, discussed at a Paris summit of the so-called coalition of the willing and attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, would not fight on the front lines but serve as a deterrent to prevent Russia from mounting another large-scale invasion. Macron emphasized the mission would aim “to guarantee peace, not to wage war on Russia.”
Zelenskyy hailed the move as a significant milestone, saying, “For the first time in a long time, this is the first such serious concrete step.” Another pillar of the initiative, Macron added, would be strengthening Ukraine’s armed forces so they could deter future aggression independently.
The Paris meeting drew leaders from across Europe, with some, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, joining remotely. US President Donald Trump, who has opened direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin since returning to the White House, did not attend but spoke with European leaders via video conference. Washington was represented on the ground by Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, who also held talks with Zelenskyy.
The scope of US involvement remains uncertain, with Macron noting America was “very clear” about its readiness to contribute but offering no firm guarantees. Divisions within Europe were also evident: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged caution, while Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reiterated Italy would not send troops, though Rome could participate in monitoring any peace accord.
Moscow swiftly rejected the plan. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova declared that Russia would not accept the deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine “in any format.”
Meanwhile, violence on the ground underscored the urgency of the talks. A Russian rocket strike in northern Ukraine killed two members of the Danish Refugee Council clearing mines near Chernigiv, local officials said.
Frustration has been mounting in Europe over what leaders describe as Putin’s refusal to pursue peace. Macron accused Russia of maintaining a “permanent war,” noting that Moscow had lost a million soldiers killed or wounded to capture just one percent of Ukrainian territory since late 2022.
The summit followed Putin’s high-profile visits to China and the United States, where he met Trump in Alaska last month. In Beijing, Putin joined President Xi Jinping at a military parade, boasting that Russian forces were advancing “on all fronts” in Ukraine.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
