Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky States Absence of Clear Defense Guarantee from European Partners

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says European allies have not given him concrete pledges that they will defend Ukraine in the event of a new Russian aggression.

"I am asking this very 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 inked a declaration of intent on deploying troops in Ukraine should a ceasefire agreement to conclude the conflict with Moscow is reached.

However, full security guarantees have not been agreed. The US, which has been leading efforts to halt the offensive, was reported to have abstained from signing such a commitment at discussions held in the French capital on Tuesday.

Outcomes from the Paris Discussions

After the Paris talks, which included some three dozen nations that form the so-called Coalition of the Willing, British PM Keir Starmer said the UK and France would "establish military hubs across Ukraine" to deter future invasion, while France's President Macron later said thousands of troops may be deployed.

Partner nations suggested that the US would take the lead in overseeing any ceasefire. But the central sticking point of territorial concessions that Ukraine is being asked to grant to Russia as part of the peace proposals are still being discussed.

Moscow has not yet commented on the announcement made in the city of Paris.

President Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow now occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

The President's Evolving Stance

The UK Prime Minister characterized the joint statement as "an essential component of our commitment to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future".

He continued: "It establishes the pathway for the juridical structure under which British, French and partner forces could function on Ukrainian soil, protecting Ukrainian airspace and waters, and regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the future."

Zelensky hailed that accord as a "significant leap of progress".

A day later, however, he seemed more cautious.

"I see the will, the political resolve, and that the allies are prepared, and the allies are willing to give us strong sanctions, powerful defense assurances," he said when asked if European countries would defend Ukraine.

"But as long as we don't have such security guarantees - formally ratified, endorsed by legislatures, backed by the U.S. Congress - this question remains unresolved. And even if they do, you must ultimately depend primarily on your inherent capabilities."

Unresolved Issues and Ongoing Conflict

The Paris talks were also significant due to the attendance of envoys from former President Trump's administration, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.

One envoy stated the allies "largely finished" their work on agreeing security protocols.

Recently, Zelensky said a settlement was "90% ready".

Territorial concessions and security guarantees have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for negotiators.

Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from the entirety of the Donbas region or Moscow will take control, dismissing potential concessions over how to conclude hostilities.

The Ukrainian President has thus far rejected relinquishing any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could redeploy its forces to an established line - but only if Russia did the same.

Russian forces currently controls about three-quarters of the Donetsk region, and some nearly all of the adjacent Luhansk region. The two regions constitute the industrial Donbas region.

It has been intensifying attacks against Ukrainian cities - with a focus on energy infrastructure. Russia has also made incremental advances in seizing additional Ukrainian land.

Ukraine has hit back at objectives inside Russia with drones, though with more limited success.