Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Asserts He Lacks Clear Security Pledge from Partner Nations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine's partners in Europe have failed to provide concrete pledges that they will protect his country in the event of a future Russian attack.
"I am asking this very question to every one of our allies and I have not received a clear, unambiguous answer yet," he told reporters on midweek.
These remarks follow a day after Britain and France signed a statement of purpose on deploying troops in Ukraine should a ceasefire agreement to conclude the conflict with Moscow is finalized.
However, comprehensive defense assurances have not been agreed. The United States, which has been spearheading initiatives to end the invasion, was reported to have abstained from signing such a pledge at talks in Paris on Tuesday.
Outcomes from the Paris Discussions
Following the negotiations in Paris, 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 "set up operational bases across Ukraine" to prevent any future incursion, while French President Emmanuel Macron later said thousands of troops may be sent.
Allies proposed that the United States 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 thus far remained silent on the declaration made in the French capital.
President Putin initiated a comprehensive military assault of Ukraine in the early months of 2022, and Moscow currently controls about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory.
Zelensky's Shifting Tone
The UK Prime Minister characterized the joint statement as "an essential component of our dedication to support Ukraine for the long-term".
He added: "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 years to come."
Zelensky hailed that agreement as a "huge step forward".
A day later, however, he seemed more cautious.
"I see the will, the political resolve, and that the partners are ready, and the partners are ready to give us robust economic measures, strong security guarantees," he said when asked if nations in Europe would defend Ukraine.
"But as long as we don't have such binding security pacts - formally ratified, supported by parliaments, backed by the U.S. Congress - this crucial issue cannot be answered. And even if they do, you must ultimately depend primarily on your own strength."
Persistent Challenges and Fighting
The Paris talks were also notable due to the attendance of envoys from former President Trump's administration, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
One envoy stated the participating countries "mostly completed" their work on finalizing security arrangements.
Recently, Zelensky said a peace deal was "ninety percent complete".
Questions of land and security guarantees have been at the center of unresolved issues for negotiators.
Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must pull back from the entirety of the Donbas region or Moscow will take control, rejecting any compromise over how to conclude hostilities.
Zelensky has so far ruled out ceding any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could redeploy its forces to an agreed point - but provided that Russia reciprocated the action.
Russian forces currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast, and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The two regions constitute the industrial Donbas region.
It has been intensifying attacks against Ukrainian cities - particularly targeting power facilities. Russia has also made incremental advances in seizing additional Ukrainian land.
Ukrainian forces have retaliated at objectives inside Russia with unmanned aerial vehicles, albeit with more limited success.
