Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Declares He Lacks Explicit Defense Guarantee from Partner Nations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says European allies have not given him solid assurances that they will protect his country in the case of a fresh offensive by Russia.
"I continue to pose this critical question to every one of our allies and I have not received a clear, unambiguous answer yet," he stated to the press on midweek.
His comments come a day after the UK and France signed a statement of purpose on deploying troops in Ukraine should a ceasefire agreement to end the war with Russia is finalized.
However, comprehensive defense assurances have not been agreed. The United States, which has been spearheading initiatives to halt the offensive, was reported to have abstained from signing such a pledge at talks in Paris on the previous day.
Outcomes from the Paris Discussions
After the Paris talks, which involved some three dozen nations that form the so-called Coalition of the Willing, British PM Keir Starmer said the UK and France would "set up operational bases across Ukraine" to deter future invasion, while French President Emmanuel Macron subsequently indicated a significant number of soldiers may be sent.
Partner nations suggested that the United States would assume a leading role 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 continuing to be negotiated.
The Russian government has not yet commented on the announcement made in the French capital.
Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the early months of 2022, and Russian forces currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.
Zelensky's Shifting Tone
Sir Keir described the joint statement as "an essential component of our dedication to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future".
He continued: "It establishes the pathway for the juridical structure under which British, French and partner forces could operate on Ukraine's territory, securing Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the years to come."
The Ukrainian leader praised that accord as a "huge step forward".
Twenty-four hours afterward, however, he appeared less optimistic.
"I see the will, the political will, and that the partners are ready, and the allies are willing to give us robust economic measures, powerful defense assurances," he said when questioned if nations in Europe would defend Ukraine.
"However, until we lack such security guarantees - legally binding, supported by parliaments, supported by the United States Congress - this crucial issue remains unresolved. And should they materialize, you must ultimately depend primarily on your inherent capabilities."
Persistent Challenges and Fighting
The Paris talks were also notable due to the presence of US President Donald Trump's peace envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
One envoy stated the participating countries "mostly completed" their work on finalizing security arrangements.
Recently, Zelensky said a settlement was "ninety percent complete".
Territorial concessions and security guarantees have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for diplomats.
Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's military must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Moscow will take control, rejecting any compromise over how to end the war.
Zelensky has so far ruled out relinquishing any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could redeploy its forces to an agreed point - but only if Russia did the same.
Moscow currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk region, and some nearly all of the neighbouring Luhansk. The pair of oblasts constitute the Donbas industrial heartland.
It has been intensifying attacks against cities in Ukraine - particularly targeting energy infrastructure. Moscow is also achieving incremental advances in capturing more Ukrainian territory.
Ukraine has hit back at Russian targets with drones, albeit with varying degrees of effectiveness.
