French President Emmanuel Macron announced that several thousand French soldiers could be sent to Ukraine to help maintain peace after a ceasefire. Macron clarified that these troops would not engage in combat but would assist in rebuilding the Ukrainian army. He mentioned that the responsibility of monitoring the Russian-Ukrainian border would lie with the Ukrainians, the Coalition of the Willing, and the Americans.
A coalition of around 30 Western and European nations, meeting in Paris, agreed on the importance of providing strong security guarantees to Ukraine in any future peace agreement. They pledged to establish a system of binding guarantees once the ceasefire becomes effective, including participation in a US-led monitoring mechanism and long-term defense cooperation.
The UK and France have expressed their intent to deploy troops in Ukraine if a peace deal is reached with Russia. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer revealed plans to establish military coordination centers across Ukraine to deter potential Russian aggression. Macron later confirmed that the deployment could involve several thousand soldiers.
While Ukraine’s allies supported the idea of enhanced security assurances, negotiations on territorial issues are ongoing. Russia has warned that foreign forces in Ukraine could become legitimate military targets. President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has left Moscow in control of about 20% of Ukrainian territory.
