PARIS (AP) — After nearly four years of war and ongoing Russian attacks, Ukraine's allies agreed Tuesday to a framework of international security guarantees designed to deter any future Russian attack.
At a meeting in Paris, European and Canadian leaders joined U.S. officials and senior European Union and NATO officials to outline how Ukraine could be defended after the fighting stops. Options include continued military support and the possible deployment of a multinational force.
It was the largest such meeting attended by two U.S. envoys in person, as the allies moved from contingency planning to discussing what deterrence might actually look like.
Basic Agreement
The allies supported the proposal to provide Ukraine with multi-level security guarantees after a ceasefire or peace settlement.
The joint statement said Ukraine's armed forces will remain the “first line of defense and deterrence” and partners are committed to providing long-term military assistance and weapons even after the end of hostilities.
French President Emmanuel Macron called the announcement a “significant step” toward ending the Russian invasion.
There was no immediate comment from Russian officials about the Paris meeting.
What the Allies obliged
The leaders said they would continue to supply equipment and training to Ukraine's frontline forces and support them with air, ground and sea support aimed at deterring new Russian aggression.
The size, structure and funding of any support forces have not been made public, and many elements remain to be discussed.
Participants identified five priorities after the end of hostilities: ceasefire monitoring; support for the Ukrainian armed forces; deployment of multinational forces on land, sea and air; agree on how to respond if Russia attacks again; and establishing long-term defense cooperation with Ukraine.
Forces and deployment
There was no immediate announcement of the deployment of troops. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that in the event of a ceasefire, Britain and France “will establish military centers throughout Ukraine and build secure facilities to store weapons and military equipment to support Ukraine's defense needs.”
Any deployment of European troops would face political obstacles and would require approval from lawmakers in many countries.
The allies said they would participate in monitoring and verifying any U.S.-led ceasefire. Starmer said partners would work to commit to supporting Ukraine in the event of any future Russian attack.
US Ambassador Steve Witkoff said the United States “strongly supports” security guarantees, without specifying what Washington would provide militarily.
Zelensky's assessment
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said progress had been made in the talks but stressed that commitments still needed to be ratified by individual countries before they could be implemented.
“We have determined which countries are ready to take leadership in elements of security guarantees on land, in the air, at sea and in reconstruction,” Zelensky said. “We have determined what forces are needed. We have determined how those forces will operate and at what levels of command.”
He said details of how the monitoring would work were yet to be determined, as was the size and funding of the Ukrainian army.
Starmer's warning and next steps
Starmer described the talks as “excellent progress” but warned that “the toughest parts are yet to come”, noting that Russian attacks on Ukraine continue.
He said peace would require compromise from Moscow and added that “Putin is not showing that he is ready for peace.”
The measures being discussed will only come into force after a ceasefire or broader settlement and after national approval processes. Zelensky said “not everyone is ready” to use force and noted that support could also be provided through weapons, technology and intelligence.
Russia insists that a ceasefire is impossible without a comprehensive settlement and has ruled out the deployment of NATO troops on Ukrainian soil.
Ukraine has warned that any ceasefire without firm guarantees could give Moscow time to regroup and attack again.
What does it mean
The framework agreed in Paris falls short of binding commitments, leaving Ukraine dependent on how quickly allies turn plans into enforceable guarantees. Obstacles to political approval, unresolved force structures, funding issues and tense transatlantic dynamics could delay or weaken these promises.
French officials said 35 participants, including 27 heads of state and government, attended in person. “Even the very existence of the coalition depends on whether certain countries are ready to intensify their presence,” Zelensky said.
For Ukraine, the main risk is that deterrence will remain theoretical while the war continues.
