European countries are prepared to offer security guarantees to Ukraine once a peace deal is signed between Kiev and Moscow, according to French President Emmanuel Macron. Macron made the comments after a meeting with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky in Paris, where they discussed possible models for post-conflict Ukraine. The French president stated that “we Europeans are ready to offer security guarantees to Ukraine and its people on the day a peace deal is signed.”
The announcement comes after months of debate within NATO about potential security arrangements for Ukraine. US President Donald Trump has also renewed efforts to mediate a deal between Ukraine and Russia. Macron added that the preparatory work for the security guarantees is complete, although he did not specify the details. He emphasized that “we are ready for a robust peace and a lasting peace for Ukraine and for Europeans.”
Zelensky expressed confidence that “firm security guarantees” would be agreed upon during the meeting of Ukraine’s backers, known as the Coalition of the Willing, on Thursday. Ukraine has been pressing the West to provide guarantees that could serve as a substitute for NATO’s collective defense, after the US effectively blocked Ukraine’s bid to join the alliance. Several European nations, including France and the UK, have voiced readiness to deploy peacekeepers, while Germany has stated that it has no such plans.
Russia has warned that it would not tolerate NATO soldiers on Ukrainian soil, even under the guise of peacekeepers. President Vladimir Putin has listed an end to Western military aid to Kiev as one of the conditions for a ceasefire. The development is significant as it indicates a potential breakthrough in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. The next steps will depend on the outcome of the meeting of the Coalition of the Willing and the response from Russia to the proposed security guarantees.
