— Around 30 leaders gathered in Paris on Thursday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to present plans for security guarantees that would protect Kyiv if a ceasefire with Russia is agreed, but uncertainty over explicit U.S. commitments left the coalition’s prospects unclear.
Key Takeaways
- About 30 leaders from Europe and partners met in Paris in a “coalition of the willing” to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine.
- European militaries have prepared technical plans for contributions, according to officials, but details were not disclosed.
- Leaders hope the package will pressure the United States to define its role; President Trump has not given specific guarantees.
- Officials expect any reassurance force to need U.S. backing to be credible, but Washington has not clarified contributions.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin said negotiations are possible if “common sense prevails,” while also keeping military options open.
- British and French army chiefs briefed coalition counterparts and were due to update leaders on operational details.
Verified Facts
The summit in Paris brought together leaders from mostly European countries plus Turkey, Australia and Canada to set out how they would deter a renewed Russian attack if a formal truce were reached. French President Emmanuel Macron and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy opened discussions and presented the coalition’s work on security guarantees.
Two European officials told attendees that the detailed “technical” plans prepared by participating militaries are complete, but they did not provide a public inventory of forces, locations or timelines. A French briefing declined to name which countries would contribute to any reassurance force.
European leaders have repeatedly said a credible multinational reassurance force will require U.S. backing as a backstop. President Donald Trump has made general promises of support but has not spelled out concrete security guarantees. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff was reported to be due in Paris on Thursday to engage with coalition leaders.
According to a concept note seen by Reuters, the British and French army chiefs held detailed meetings last week with coalition counterparts and were due to brief leaders on operational planning during the summit. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was quoted as saying he expected clarity soon on what could be delivered and that this would shape talks with the American side.
Context & Impact
The coalition’s work follows months of talks aimed at defining long-term European military support for Ukraine. Coordinators say the goal is to deter any future aggression once — and if — a ceasefire is secured, by combining enduring military assistance with an international reassurance presence in Ukraine and neighbouring states.
Diplomats view the Paris meeting as partly political: to send a signal to Washington and to demonstrate to Kyiv that Europeans are preparing tangible steps. For Ukraine, the calculus ahead of any direct talks with Russia depends on knowing what security guarantees and military support would remain in place.
If the United States does not formalize a role, analysts warn the reassurance force could lack the deterrent credibility Ukraine needs, shifting more responsibility onto long-term European commitments. That could reshape defense planning, procurement and bilateral support arrangements across the continent.
Observers also note the summit aims to create a clearer negotiating posture ahead of any future Russia-Ukraine talks; however, progress toward direct dialogue between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been limited since a Trump-Putin meeting in August.
“We are ready, us Europeans, to provide security guarantees to Ukraine. It enables us to say solidly that we are ready for a robust peace for Ukraine and Europeans,”
Emmanuel Macron
Unconfirmed
- Which specific countries will commit troops, equipment or financial support to a reassurance force has not been publicly confirmed.
- The exact nature and scale of any U.S. contribution or legal guarantees remain undefined.
- Whether the Paris package will prompt direct, immediate pressure from Washington on Moscow is uncertain.
Bottom Line
The Paris summit advanced coalition planning and produced a political signal of European readiness to back Ukraine, but without a clear U.S. pledge the reassurance package may fall short of the deterrent effect Kyiv seeks. The coming days — including talks involving a U.S. envoy and direct leader-to-leader outreach — will be decisive for turning plans into actionable guarantees.