Zelensky States He Lacks Definitive 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 fresh offensive by Russia.

"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 Wednesday.

These remarks follow a day after Britain and France inked a declaration of intent on stationing forces in Ukraine if a peace deal to end the war with Russia 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 commitment at discussions held in the French capital on Tuesday.

Details of the Paris Talks

After the Paris talks, which included some 30 countries that form the group termed the 'Coalition of the Willing', UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK and France 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 sent.

Allies proposed that the United States would take the lead in overseeing any ceasefire. But the central sticking point of ceding land 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 declaration made in the French capital.

President Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the early months of 2022, and Russian forces now occupies about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory.

The President's Evolving Stance

Sir Keir described the bilateral declaration as "a vital part of our commitment to stand with 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 regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the future."

The Ukrainian leader praised that accord as a "huge step forward".

A day later, however, he seemed more cautious.

"I see the will, the political will, and that the allies are prepared, and the partners are ready to give us strong sanctions, powerful defense assurances," he said when asked if nations in Europe would defend Ukraine.

"However, until we don't have such security guarantees - formally ratified, endorsed by legislatures, backed by the U.S. Congress - this question cannot be answered. And even if they do, you must ultimately depend first and foremost on your own strength."

Persistent Challenges and Fighting

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

One envoy stated the participating countries "largely finished" their work on finalizing security arrangements.

Last week, the President indicated a peace deal was "ninety percent complete".

Territorial concessions and security guarantees have been at the center of unresolved issues for diplomats.

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 established line - but provided that Russia did the same.

Russian forces now holds about three-quarters of the Donetsk oblast, and some nearly all of the neighbouring Luhansk. The two regions form the industrial Donbas region.

It has been intensifying attacks against Ukrainian cities - particularly targeting power facilities. Moscow is also achieving incremental advances in seizing additional Ukrainian land.

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