Zelensky Declares Absence of Definitive Security Pledge from European Partners
President Zelensky has stated that European allies have not given him sound guarantees that they will defend Ukraine in the case of a new Russian aggression.
"I am asking this very question to all our partners and thus far, the answer remains elusive a definitive and straightforward response yet," he told reporters on midweek.
His comments come a day after the UK and France signed a statement of purpose on deploying troops in Ukraine if a peace deal to conclude the conflict with Moscow is finalized.
However, comprehensive defense assurances have not been agreed. The United States, which has been leading efforts to halt the offensive, was reported to have abstained from signing such a pledge at talks in Paris on Tuesday.
Details of the Paris Talks
After the Paris talks, which included some three dozen nations that comprise the so-called Coalition of the Willing, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the two nations would "set up operational bases across Ukraine" to prevent any future incursion, while France's President Macron later said a significant number of soldiers may be deployed.
Allies proposed that the US would take the lead in monitoring a truce. But the key issue of ceding land that Ukraine is being pressured to offer to Russia as a component of the settlement terms are continuing to be negotiated.
The Russian government has not yet commented on the announcement made in the French capital.
President Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow now occupies about one-fifth of Ukraine's land.
Zelensky's Shifting Tone
Sir Keir described the joint statement as "a vital part of our dedication to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future".
He continued: "It establishes the pathway for the juridical structure under which allied military personnel could function on Ukraine's territory, protecting Ukrainian airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's armed forces for the years to come."
The Ukrainian leader praised that accord as a "significant leap of progress".
A day later, however, he seemed more cautious.
"I perceive the determination, the political will, and that the allies are prepared, and the partners are ready to give us robust economic measures, strong security guarantees," he said when asked if European countries would defend Ukraine.
"However, until we lack such binding security pacts - formally ratified, endorsed by legislatures, backed by the U.S. Congress - this question remains unresolved. And should they materialize, you must ultimately depend first and foremost on your own strength."
Persistent Challenges and Fighting
The Paris talks were also notable due to the attendance of envoys from former President Trump's administration, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.
Witkoff said the allies "largely finished" their work on agreeing security protocols.
Recently, Zelensky said a peace deal was "90% ready".
Territorial concessions and defense pledges have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for negotiators.
Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Moscow will take control, dismissing potential concessions over how to end the war.
Zelensky has so far ruled out ceding any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could redeploy its forces to an agreed point - but provided that Russia did the same.
Russian forces currently controls about three-quarters of the Donetsk oblast, and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The two regions form the industrial Donbas region.
It has been intensifying attacks against cities in Ukraine - particularly targeting energy infrastructure. Russia has also made slow progress in seizing additional Ukrainian land.
Ukrainian forces have retaliated at Russian targets with drones, albeit with varying degrees of effectiveness.
