French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that 26 countries have agreed to participate in a reassurance force in Ukraine if a ceasefire is established. A meeting in Paris brought together 30 Western leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to discuss security guarantees for Kyiv in the event of a peace agreement with Russia.
Macron stated that the United States has expressed its willingness to be part of the security guarantees for Ukraine, with final planning details remaining to be ironed out. He emphasized that the U.S. has been actively engaged in discussions regarding their support for Ukraine’s security.
The commitments from the participating countries include plans for deploying troops in Ukraine or maintaining a presence on land, sea, or air to ensure the country’s security. Zelenskyy mentioned that a general framework for security guarantees has been established, and preparations are underway in the countries that have agreed to contribute.
Despite the ongoing talks, military actions continued as Russia’s Defense Ministry reported the destruction of a drone launch site in Ukraine’s Chernihiv region through a missile strike. Ukrainian officials also confirmed casualties from a missile strike on a humanitarian demining mission near Chernihiv.
Canada pledged support without specifying details, joining the coalition effort to define potential military assistance for Ukraine to deter future Russian aggression post-truce. President Donald Trump of the U.S. has not publicly committed to specific actions, although he hinted at potential air support.
During the summit, leaders discussed coordinated sanctions, with Finland’s president mentioning Trump’s suggestion of joint U.S.-Europe sanctions against Russia, including potential measures targeting oil and gas industries. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte anticipated clarity from the coalition on deliverables, paving the way for further discussions with Washington on security guarantees.
The summit also addressed the need to maintain economic pressure on Russia and highlighted the importance of multilateral efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine. Putin recently signaled openness to negotiations to end the war, expressing a preference for a peaceful resolution but also indicating readiness for force if necessary.