European leaders and US officials committed to “legally binding” assurances western allies would jointly guarantee Ukraine’s security from a future Russian attack, as a core element of any peace deal to end the brutal conflict.
A Paris summit of the so-called Coalition of the Willing, attended by the leaders of Europe’s major powers and US officials, mapped out proposed security guarantees that would be offered to comfort Ukraine in a truce.
Washington refrained from offering its full backing to European-led efforts to backstop a ceasefire, seen by Kyiv as necessary to deter Russia from mulling another invasion several years after any peace settlement.
The meeting in the Élysée Palace was attended by a significant number of European leaders and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
The US administration’s envoy tasked with helping to broker an end to the war, Steve Witkoff, and US president Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, attended the meeting.
A joint statement released afterwards committed to a “system of politically and legally binding guarantees” that would kick-in following a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Zelenskiy (left) and Macron shake hands as they deliver a press conference upon the signing of the declaration in Paris on Tuesday. Photograph: Ludovic Marin/Pool/ AFP via Getty
However, language in any earlier draft of the text binding the US to play a “vital and closely coordinated role in the provision of these security guarantees”, was removed from the final version.
Europe and Kyiv’s diplomatic efforts have for months focused on locking in US backing for ironclad security guarantees, in the event Mr Zelenskiy agreed to a truce in the full-scale war that began when Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022.
The plans drawn up in Paris envisaged a settlement where the US would lead work monitoring a ceasefire along the front line.
A special commission would be established to investigate any breaches of the truce and attribute responsibility, as well as “determine remedies”.
The coalition agreed that Ukraine’s army would benefit from continued financial support and assistance.
European governments reiterated their support to deploy some type of armed force, made up of troops from contributing states, to reassure Ukraine.
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“Co-ordinated military planning has been conducted to prepare for reassurance measures in the air, at sea and on land and for the regeneration of the armed forces of Ukraine,” a joint statement said after the meeting.
“We confirmed that these reassurance measures should be strictly implemented at Ukraine’s request once a credible cessation of hostilities has taken place. These elements will be European-led, with the involvement also of non-European members of the Coalition, and the proposed support of the US,” the communique said.
A future attack by Russia would trigger “binding commitments” from Ukraine’s allies to restore peace.
Aid provided to Ukraine in such a scenario “may include the use of military capabilities, intelligence and logistical support, diplomatic initiatives, adoption of additional sanctions,” the statement said.
Britain and France would establish “military hubs” inside postwar Ukraine, to shore up its defences, UK prime minister Keir Starmer said after the meeting.
French president Emmanuel Macron said he believed US commitments to support the proposed security guarantees were genuine and could be trusted.
Mr Trump has been upping the pressure on Ukraine to compromise and sign up to a ceasefire deal that would end the deadliest conflict on the Continent since the second World War.
Ukraine has lobbied for admission into the US-led Nato military alliance, and the cover of a common defence clause membership brings, something Mr Trump has ruled out.
Previous attempts by European governments and Mr Zelenskiy to shape the ongoing US-led peace negotiations have run up against opposition from Russia, who continue to demand Kyiv give up territory Ukrainian forces hold in the east, as the price of any truce.