Zelensky Declares He Lacks Clear Defense Guarantee from Partner Nations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine's partners in Europe have failed to provide sound guarantees that they will protect his country in the event of a future Russian attack.
"I continue to pose this critical question to all our partners and I have not received a definitive and straightforward response yet," he told reporters on midweek.
These remarks follow a day after Britain and France signed a statement of purpose on stationing forces in Ukraine if a peace deal to conclude the conflict with Moscow is agreed.
However, full security guarantees have not been agreed. The US, which has been spearheading initiatives to end the invasion, reportedly did not sign such a pledge at talks in Paris on the previous day.
Details of the Paris Talks
After the Paris talks, which included some 30 countries that comprise the so-called Coalition of the Willing, British PM Keir Starmer said the UK and France would "set up operational bases across Ukraine" to prevent any future incursion, while France's President Macron subsequently indicated thousands of troops may be sent.
Allies proposed that the United States would assume a leading role in monitoring a truce. But the central sticking point of territorial concessions that Ukraine is being pressured to offer to Russia as part of the peace proposals are continuing to be negotiated.
Moscow has not yet commented on the declaration made in the French capital.
President Putin initiated a comprehensive military assault of Ukraine in the early months of 2022, and Russian forces now occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory.
The President's Evolving Stance
Sir Keir described the joint statement as "an essential component of our dedication to support Ukraine for the long-term".
He continued: "It establishes the pathway for the juridical structure under which British, French and partner forces could function on Ukraine's territory, securing Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's military for the years to come."
The Ukrainian leader praised that agreement as a "significant leap of progress".
A day later, however, he seemed more cautious.
"I perceive the determination, the political will, and that the partners are ready, and the partners are ready to give us robust economic measures, powerful defense assurances," he said when questioned if European countries would defend Ukraine.
"But as long as 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 inherent capabilities."
Unresolved Issues and Ongoing Conflict
Negotiations in Paris were also notable owing to the presence of US President Donald Trump's peace envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.
Witkoff said the participating countries "mostly completed" their work on agreeing security protocols.
Recently, Zelensky said a settlement was "ninety percent complete".
Questions of land and security guarantees have been at the center of outstanding matters for diplomats.
Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's military must pull back from the entirety of the Donbas region or Russia will seize it, dismissing potential concessions over how to end the war.
Zelensky has so far ruled out relinquishing any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could redeploy its forces to an agreed point - but provided that Russia reciprocated the action.
Russian forces currently controls about three-quarters of the Donetsk region, and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the industrial Donbas region.
It has been intensifying attacks against Ukrainian cities - particularly targeting energy infrastructure. Moscow is also achieving incremental advances in capturing more Ukrainian territory.
Ukrainian forces have retaliated at Russian targets with drones, though with varying degrees of effectiveness.