Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Asserts He Lacks Definitive Defense Guarantee from European Partners
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says European allies have failed to provide concrete pledges that they will protect his country in the event of a future Russian attack.
"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 statement of purpose on stationing forces in Ukraine if a peace deal to conclude the conflict with Moscow is agreed.
However, full security guarantees have yet to be solidified. The US, which has been spearheading initiatives 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 involved some three dozen nations that form the group termed the 'Coalition of the Willing', UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the two nations would "establish military hubs across Ukraine" to deter future invasion, while French President Emmanuel Macron later said a significant number of soldiers may be sent.
Allies proposed that the US would assume a leading role in monitoring a truce. But the key issue of ceding land that Ukraine is being pressured to offer to Russia as part of the peace proposals are continuing to be negotiated.
The Russian government has thus far remained silent on the announcement made in the city of Paris.
President Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the early months of 2022, and Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.
The President's Evolving Stance
The UK Prime Minister characterized the bilateral declaration as "a vital part of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the long-term".
He added: "It paves the way for the legal framework under which British, French and partner forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, protecting Ukrainian airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's armed forces for the years to come."
Zelensky hailed that accord as a "huge step forward".
A day later, however, he seemed more cautious.
"I perceive the determination, the political resolve, and that the allies are prepared, and the allies are willing to give us strong sanctions, strong security guarantees," he said when asked if European countries would defend Ukraine.
"But as long as we don't have such binding security pacts - formally ratified, endorsed by legislatures, backed by the U.S. Congress - this crucial issue remains unresolved. And even if they do, you must ultimately depend primarily on your own strength."
Persistent Challenges and Fighting
The Paris talks were also notable owing to the attendance of envoys from former President Trump's administration, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
One envoy stated the participating countries "largely finished" their work on agreeing security protocols.
Recently, Zelensky said a peace deal was "90% ready".
Territorial concessions and security guarantees 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 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 agreed point - but provided that Russia reciprocated the action.
Moscow currently controls about three-quarters of the Donetsk oblast, and some nearly all of the adjacent Luhansk region. The two regions constitute the industrial Donbas region.
Attacks have been escalating against Ukrainian cities - particularly targeting energy infrastructure. Moscow is also achieving slow progress in capturing more Ukrainian territory.
Ukraine has hit back at Russian targets with unmanned aerial vehicles, albeit with more limited success.