Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says European allies have not given him sound guarantees that they will protect his country in the case of new Russian aggression.
I am asking this very question to all our partners and I have not received a clear, unambiguous answer yet, he told reporters on Wednesday.
His comments come a day after the UK and France signed a declaration of intent on deploying troops in Ukraine if a peace deal to end the war with Russia is agreed.
However, full security guarantees have not been agreed. The US, which has been leading efforts to end the invasion, reportedly did not sign such a pledge at talks in Paris on Tuesday.
After the Paris talks, which included some 30 countries that form the so-called 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 French President Emmanuel Macron later stated that thousands of troops may be deployed.
Allies proposed that the US would take the lead in monitoring a truce. But the key issue of territorial concessions that Ukraine is being asked to grant to Russia as part of the peace proposals are still being discussed.
Moscow has yet to comment on the announcements made in the French capital.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.
Sir Keir described the joint statement as a vital part of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the long-term adding that it sets the legal framework for British, French, and partner forces to operate on Ukrainian soil, which includes securing Ukraine's airspace and revitalizing its armed forces.
Zelensky hailed the agreement as a huge step forward, but later expressed caution, emphasizing the need for legally binding security guarantees bolstered by support from parliaments, particularly that of the United States Congress.
The ongoing talks were also marked by the presence of US President Donald Trump's peace envoys, who claimed that substantial progress was made in agreeing on security protocols.
Last week, Zelensky indicated that a peace deal was 90% ready, yet crucial unresolved issues remain related to territorial concessions and security guarantees, with Putin adamantly refusing any compromises regarding Donbas and ongoing attacks targeting Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure.
Zelensky has indicated that territorial concessions are off the table, although he has suggested a possible withdrawal agreement in line with Russian troop movements.
The conflict’s straightforward brutality continues, making the quest for peace a precarious balancing act.
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