Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Asserts He Lacks Explicit Security Pledge from European Partners
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine's partners in Europe have not given him sound guarantees that they will protect his country in the case of a fresh offensive by Russia.
"I am asking this very question to all our partners and I have not received a clear, unambiguous answer yet," he told reporters on Wednesday.
His comments come a day after Britain and France inked a statement of purpose on stationing forces in Ukraine should a ceasefire agreement to end the war with Russia is agreed.
However, full security guarantees have yet to be solidified. The US, which has been leading efforts to halt the offensive, was reported to have abstained from signing such a pledge at discussions held in the French capital on Tuesday.
Details of the Paris Talks
After the Paris talks, which included some 30 countries that comprise the group termed the '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 subsequently indicated a significant number of soldiers may be sent.
Partner nations suggested that the United States would take the lead in overseeing any ceasefire. But the central sticking point of ceding land that Ukraine is being pressured to offer to Russia as a component of the settlement terms are continuing to be negotiated.
Moscow has not yet commented on the declaration made in the French capital.
President Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the early months of 2022, and Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.
Zelensky's Shifting Tone
Sir Keir described the joint statement as "an essential component of our commitment to support Ukraine for the long-term".
He added: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which allied military personnel could function on Ukraine's territory, securing Ukraine's skies and seas, and rebuilding Ukraine's armed forces for the years to come."
Zelensky hailed that accord as a "significant leap of progress".
Twenty-four hours afterward, however, he appeared less optimistic.
"I see the will, the political will, and that the allies are prepared, and the allies are willing to give us strong sanctions, strong security guarantees," he said when questioned if nations in Europe would defend Ukraine.
"However, until we lack such security guarantees - formally ratified, supported by parliaments, backed by the U.S. Congress - this question cannot be answered. And even if they do, you still have to rely primarily on your inherent capabilities."
Persistent Challenges and Fighting
Negotiations in Paris were also significant due to the attendance of envoys from former President Trump's administration, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.
Witkoff said the participating countries "largely finished" their work on finalizing security arrangements.
Last week, Zelensky said a peace deal was "ninety percent complete".
Questions of land and defense pledges have been at the forefront of outstanding matters for negotiators.
The Russian leader has consistently stated that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, dismissing potential concessions over how to conclude hostilities.
Zelensky has so far ruled out ceding any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could redeploy its forces to an established line - but provided that Russia did the same.
Russian forces now holds about three-quarters of the Donetsk region, and some nearly all of the neighbouring Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the industrial Donbas region.
Attacks have been escalating against Ukrainian cities - with a focus on energy infrastructure. Russia has also made incremental advances in capturing more Ukrainian territory.
Ukraine has hit back at Russian targets with unmanned aerial vehicles, though with varying degrees of effectiveness.