On Sept. 4, 2025 in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 26 countries have pledged to send troops or maintain military presences on land, at sea or in the air as a reassurance force to help secure Ukraine once active fighting with Russia ends.
Key Takeaways
- At a Paris summit of 35 allied countries, 26 committed to deploy forces or keep a presence in Ukraine after hostilities cease.
- The initiative is described as defensive: meant to deter new large-scale aggression, not to fight Russia.
- U.S. participation is described as likely but the exact U.S. role remains to be finalized with Washington.
- European leaders signaled tougher sanctions if Russia delays a ceasefire; diplomatic pressure continues, including a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump.
- Ukraine reported 112 Russian strike and decoy drones overnight; 84 were intercepted or jammed, according to Ukraine’s Air Force.
- Political leaders present included Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.
- The pledge follows wider discussions about long-term security guarantees and sustaining Western military assistance to Ukraine.
Verified Facts
Leaders gathered at the Élysée Palace on Sept. 4 for talks among a self-styled “coalition of the willing,” a 35-country grouping backing Ukraine. Macron said 26 of those countries have now committed to contribute troops or maintain military assets inside or near Ukraine once active combat stops.
Macron stressed the reassurance force is intended to guarantee security after a ceasefire and to prevent new major aggression; he framed it as a deterrent rather than an instrument to reopen hostilities with Russia.
Both Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the United States has indicated willingness to be part of the plan, but details of U.S. involvement will be worked out in planning talks. Zelenskyy described U.S. signals as encouraging but did not specify force levels or timelines.
Outside the summit, leaders warned Russia against prolonging the fighting. German officials said Europe could intensify sanctions should Moscow stall on a diplomatic settlement. A phone call among European leaders and President Trump included calls for stronger economic pressure on Russia and reduced purchases of Russian oil and gas.
Security incidents continued on the ground: Ukraine’s Air Force reported 112 Russian strike and decoy drones across the country the night before, with 84 intercepted or jammed by air defenses and electronic measures.
Context & Impact
The reassurance force proposal aims to bridge the gap between wartime support and peacetime security commitments. By involving a broad set of nations, European leaders seek to distribute responsibility and signal collective resolve.
For Ukraine, sustained foreign military presence could help deter renewed aggression, reassure displaced populations and support reconstruction security. For participating countries, deployments raise questions about duration, mandate, legal status and logistics.
List: Potential implications to monitor
- How troop rotations and command arrangements will be organized.
- Whether air and naval components will be multinational or managed bilaterally.
- Legal frameworks for forces operating on Ukrainian territory and their rules of engagement.
- How long the reassurance presence would remain and what exit conditions would apply.
Official Statements
“This force does not have the objective of waging war against Russia; its purpose is to prevent any new major aggression and involve partner states in Ukraine’s lasting security,”
Emmanuel Macron
“We welcome U.S. willingness to participate; planning will be finalized with the United States,”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (paraphrased)
Unconfirmed
- Precise numbers and types of troops each country will deploy have not been published.
- The formal legal status and rules of engagement for forces on Ukrainian soil remain to be agreed.
- Specifics of the U.S. contribution were described as likely but not defined publicly.
Bottom Line
Leaders in Paris presented a collective pledge by 26 countries to help secure Ukraine after a ceasefire, signaling a strategic shift toward long-term multinational guarantees. Implementation will depend on final planning with the United States, legal arrangements, and whether Russia agrees to a credible halt in fighting.