Zelensky Declares Absence of Clear Security Pledge from Partner Nations
President Zelensky has stated that Ukraine's partners in Europe have not given him sound guarantees that they will protect his country in the event of a fresh offensive by Russia.
"I continue to pose this critical question to every one of our allies and I have not received a definitive and straightforward response yet," he told reporters on midweek.
His comments come a day after Britain and France inked a statement of purpose on deploying troops in Ukraine if a peace deal to end the war with Russia is finalized.
However, comprehensive defense assurances have not been agreed. The United States, which has been spearheading initiatives to end the invasion, reportedly did not sign such a commitment at talks in Paris on the previous day.
Outcomes from the Paris Discussions
Following the negotiations in Paris, which included some three dozen nations that form the so-called 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 French President Emmanuel Macron later said a significant number of soldiers may be deployed.
Allies proposed that the US would take the lead in monitoring a truce. But the key issue of ceding land that Ukraine is being pressured to offer to Russia as a component of the settlement terms 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 comprehensive military assault of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukraine's land.
Zelensky's Shifting Tone
The UK Prime Minister characterized the joint statement as "an essential component of our dedication to stand with Ukraine for the long-term".
He continued: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which allied military personnel could operate 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".
Twenty-four hours afterward, however, he appeared less optimistic.
"I see the will, the political resolve, and that the allies are prepared, and the allies are willing to give us robust economic measures, strong security guarantees," he said when questioned if European countries would defend Ukraine.
"But as long as we don't have such binding security pacts - legally binding, supported by parliaments, supported by the United States Congress - this question remains unresolved. And should they materialize, you must ultimately depend primarily on your own strength."
Persistent Challenges and Fighting
Negotiations in Paris were also significant owing to the presence of US President Donald Trump's peace envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.
Witkoff said the allies "mostly completed" their work on agreeing security protocols.
Recently, Zelensky said a settlement was "90% ready".
Questions of land and security guarantees have been at the center of unresolved issues for negotiators.
Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Moscow will take control, rejecting any compromise over how to conclude hostilities.
Zelensky has so far ruled out relinquishing any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could redeploy its forces to an established line - but provided that Russia reciprocated the action.
Moscow currently controls about three-quarters of the Donetsk region, and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The two regions constitute the industrial Donbas region.
It has been intensifying attacks against cities in Ukraine - particularly targeting energy infrastructure. Russia has also made incremental advances in capturing more Ukrainian territory.
Ukrainian forces have retaliated at objectives inside Russia with drones, though with more limited success.
