Zelensky States Absence of Explicit Defense Guarantee from European Partners

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine's partners in Europe have failed to provide sound guarantees that they will defend Ukraine in the event of a future Russian attack.

"I continue to pose this critical question to every one of our allies and I have not received a clear, unambiguous answer yet," he stated to the press on midweek.

These remarks follow a day after Britain and France signed a declaration of intent on stationing forces in Ukraine should a ceasefire agreement to conclude the conflict with Moscow is agreed.

However, comprehensive defense assurances have not been agreed. The United States, which has been leading efforts to end the invasion, reportedly did not sign such a pledge at talks in Paris on the previous day.

Details of the Paris Talks

After the Paris talks, which included some three dozen nations that comprise the so-called Coalition of the Willing, British PM Keir Starmer said the two nations would "establish military hubs across Ukraine" to deter future invasion, while France's President Macron later said a significant number of soldiers may be deployed.

Partner nations suggested that the US would assume a leading role 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 city of Paris.

President Putin initiated a comprehensive military assault of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow now occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

Zelensky's Shifting Tone

Sir Keir described the bilateral declaration as "an essential component of our commitment to support Ukraine for the long-term".

He continued: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which British, French and partner forces could function on Ukrainian soil, protecting Ukrainian airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's military for the future."

Zelensky hailed that agreement as a "significant leap of progress".

Twenty-four hours afterward, however, he seemed more cautious.

"I perceive the determination, the political will, and that the partners are ready, and the partners are ready to give us strong sanctions, strong security guarantees," he said when asked if European countries would come to Ukraine's aid.

"But as long as we don't have such security guarantees - formally ratified, endorsed by legislatures, backed by the U.S. Congress - this question remains unresolved. And should they materialize, you still have to rely primarily on your inherent capabilities."

Unresolved Issues and Ongoing Conflict

Negotiations in Paris were also significant owing to the presence of envoys from former President Trump's administration, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.

Witkoff said the allies "largely finished" their work on finalizing security arrangements.

Last week, Zelensky said a settlement was "ninety percent complete".

Questions of land and defense pledges have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for diplomats.

Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's military must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Moscow will take control, dismissing potential concessions over how to end the war.

Zelensky has so far ruled out relinquishing any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could redeploy its forces to an agreed point - but provided that Russia did the same.

Russian forces currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk region, and some nearly all of the neighbouring Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the industrial Donbas region.

It has been intensifying attacks against cities in Ukraine - with a focus on power facilities. Moscow is also achieving slow progress in seizing additional Ukrainian land.

Ukrainian forces have retaliated at Russian targets with unmanned aerial vehicles, albeit with varying degrees of effectiveness.