Zelensky Asserts Absence of Explicit Defense Guarantee from Partner Nations
President Zelensky has stated that Ukraine's partners in Europe have not given him concrete pledges that they will protect his country in the event of a fresh offensive by Russia.
"I am asking this very question to all our partners and I have not received a clear, unambiguous answer yet," he stated to the press on Wednesday.
His comments come a day after the UK and France inked a statement of purpose on stationing forces in Ukraine if a peace deal to end the war with Russia is finalized.
However, comprehensive defense assurances have yet to be solidified. The United States, which has been leading efforts to end the invasion, reportedly did not sign such a pledge at discussions held in the French capital on the previous day.
Details of the Paris Talks
Following the negotiations in Paris, which involved some three dozen nations that form the group termed the 'Coalition of the Willing', British PM Keir Starmer said the two nations would "establish military hubs across Ukraine" to prevent any future incursion, while French President Emmanuel Macron subsequently indicated thousands of troops may be sent.
Partner nations suggested that the United States would assume a leading role in overseeing any ceasefire. But the key issue of ceding land that Ukraine is being asked to grant to Russia as part of the peace proposals are continuing to be negotiated.
The Russian government has not yet commented on the declaration made in the city of Paris.
Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a comprehensive military assault of Ukraine in the early months of 2022, and Russian forces now occupies about one-fifth of Ukraine's land.
Zelensky's Shifting Tone
Sir Keir described the joint statement as "a vital part of our dedication to stand with Ukraine for the foreseeable future".
He continued: "It establishes the pathway 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 military for the years to come."
Zelensky hailed that agreement as a "huge step forward".
A day later, however, he appeared less optimistic.
"I see the will, the political will, and that the partners are ready, and the allies are willing to give us strong sanctions, powerful defense assurances," he said when asked if European countries would defend Ukraine.
"However, until we don't have such security guarantees - 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 first and foremost on your own strength."
Persistent Challenges and Fighting
Negotiations in Paris were also significant due to the presence of envoys from former President Trump's administration, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.
Witkoff said the participating countries "mostly completed" their work on agreeing security protocols.
Recently, Zelensky said a peace deal was "ninety percent complete".
Questions of land and defense pledges have been at the center of unresolved issues for diplomats.
The Russian leader has consistently stated that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, rejecting any compromise over how to end the war.
The Ukrainian President has thus far rejected ceding any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could redeploy its forces to an established line - but provided that Russia did the same.
Russian forces currently controls about three-quarters of the Donetsk region, and some nearly all of the neighbouring Luhansk. The two regions constitute the Donbas industrial heartland.
It has been intensifying attacks against Ukrainian cities - particularly targeting energy infrastructure. Russia has also made incremental advances in seizing additional Ukrainian land.
Ukraine has hit back at objectives inside Russia with unmanned aerial vehicles, albeit with varying degrees of effectiveness.
