Guaranteeing a security force for Ukraine post-conflict would not involve initiating war with Russia, Macron clarifies
Russia has made it clear that it will not entertain the deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine in any format, as President Vladimir Putin vowed that Russia would continue its fight in the country if no peace deal is reached. This stance was echoed by Russia's foreign ministry, which deemed the proposed security guarantees for Ukraine as "absolutely unacceptable."
In a bid to strengthen Ukraine's security, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that 26 countries, mostly European, are prepared to send troops to Ukraine as part of a reassurance force after a ceasefire or peace agreement with Russia. The proposed "reassurance force" would be deployed on the ground, in the sea, or in the air in Ukraine.
However, the nature of the guarantees remains tight-lipped, with European leaders offering few details about the nature of the security arrangements. It is expected that the details will include the deployment of European troops, training, and "backstop" support from the United States. Trump indicated that the United States could back up any European peacekeeping plan, but would not deploy US soldiers to Ukraine.
The summit aimed to firm up plans on security guarantees for Ukraine if a ceasefire is reached. The meeting took place following Putin's high-profile trips to China and the United States. Putin's meeting with Trump in Alaska last month yielded no breakthrough, while Putin attended a military parade in China alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Ukrainian President Zelensky expressed concerns that European security guarantees might not prevent Putin from starting a new war. Zelensky advocated for an alliance between Europe and the United States to ensure Ukraine's security. Macron previously referred to Putin as an "ogre at our gates."
French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu stated that in a Soviet KGB culture, buying time and deceiving partners is part of a well-known Russian strategy. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called Putin a "war criminal" and advocated for dealing with war criminals with leniency being out of place.
Not all countries are on board with the proposed reassurance force. Italy and Poland have resisted sending troops on the ground, raising questions about the force's composition and effectiveness. Nonetheless, the international community continues to discuss and explore options to support Ukraine's security and stability.
Read also:
- "Father, battling illness, laments the loss of compassion as he learns that support for his autistic son in school will no longer be provided"
- Voting location now active for citizens to cast their ballots.
- Federal clash in California: two legal cases could potentially align, as a notice is published in the Federal Register
- "Local Democrats in the Bronx offering support for Zohran"
