Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky States He Lacks Explicit Defense Guarantee from Allies
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says European allies have not given him solid assurances that they will protect his country in the event of a future Russian attack.
"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 inked a statement of purpose on stationing forces in Ukraine should a ceasefire agreement to end the war with Russia is reached.
However, comprehensive defense assurances have yet to be solidified. The United States, which has been leading efforts to halt the offensive, was reported to have abstained from signing such a pledge at discussions held in the French capital on the previous day.
Details of the Paris Talks
Following the negotiations in Paris, which included some 30 countries that comprise the so-called Coalition of the Willing, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK and France would "set up operational bases across Ukraine" to prevent any future incursion, while French President Emmanuel Macron subsequently indicated a significant number of soldiers may be sent.
Partner nations suggested that the US 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 still being discussed.
Moscow has thus far remained silent on the declaration made in the city of Paris.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces currently controls about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory.
The President's Evolving Stance
The UK Prime Minister characterized the joint statement as "a vital part of our commitment to support Ukraine for the long-term".
He added: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which allied military personnel could operate on Ukraine's territory, protecting Ukrainian airspace and waters, and regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the future."
The Ukrainian leader praised that accord as a "huge step forward".
A day later, however, he seemed more cautious.
"I perceive the determination, 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 asked if nations in Europe would defend Ukraine.
"However, until we don't have such security guarantees - legally binding, supported by parliaments, backed by the U.S. Congress - this crucial issue cannot be answered. And even if they do, you must ultimately depend first and foremost on your own strength."
Unresolved Issues and Ongoing Conflict
The Paris talks were also significant due to the attendance of US President Donald Trump's peace envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.
Witkoff said the allies "mostly completed" their work on finalizing security arrangements.
Recently, Zelensky said a settlement was "ninety percent complete".
Territorial concessions and defense pledges have been at the center of outstanding matters for negotiators.
Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's military must pull back from the entirety of the Donbas region or Moscow will take control, dismissing potential concessions over how to end the war.
The Ukrainian President has thus far rejected ceding any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could redeploy its forces to an agreed point - but only if Russia did the same.
Moscow now holds about 75% of the Donetsk oblast, and some nearly all of the adjacent Luhansk region. The two regions form the industrial Donbas region.
Attacks have been escalating against cities in Ukraine - with a focus on power facilities. Russia has also made incremental advances in seizing additional Ukrainian land.
Ukraine has hit back at Russian targets with unmanned aerial vehicles, albeit with varying degrees of effectiveness.
