KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that 26 Ukrainian allies have pledged to deploy their troops as “security forces” in the war-torn country once the fight ends in a conflict with Russia.
Macron spoke after a meeting in Paris with the so-called “Coalition of the Willing,” a group of 35 countries supporting Ukraine. He said 26 countries have committed to deploying troops in Ukraine or to exist on land, sea or air to ensure the security of the country the day after a ceasefire or peace has been achieved.
Earlier on Thursday, Macron and other European leaders met with Ukrainian President Voldy Mie Zelensky and US envoys for peace negotiations to discuss how to ensure long-term military support for Ukraine and continue to support the US once the conflict is over. Zelenskyy also held a closure meeting with Witkoff.
Macron said at a press conference alongside Zelensky that Relief “has no intention or purpose in engaging in a war against Russia,” but that “we aim to prevent new major attacks and to ensure that 26 states are very clearly involved in Ukraine’s lasting security.”
Macron and Zelenskyy say we support the plan
Details of the US participation in security guarantees remain unknown, but both Macron and Zelensky said they expressed their willingness to become part of the plan, and the Ukrainian president said they were grateful for it. “We are not ready to go into detail about what format we have yet to explain,” added Zelenskyy.
“The planning work will be finalized in the US,” Macron said.
Macron and British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer led the “Coalition of Ambitiousness” to argue that the “security” power of Ukraine’s Europe needed US support.
European leaders effectively attended the conference, but Russian President Vladimir Putin said that now they must work towards the end of the battle, and the German government proposed that if Moscow limps, European sanctions against Russia would increase. European leaders also spoke on the phone with President Donald Trump after their meeting.
The priority position said the British prime minister “emphasized that with President Trump’s support, the group has an unbreakable pledge to Ukraine. And it was clear now that they needed to put pressure on Putin to ensure a more hostile halt.”
Trump’s phone
Finnish President Alexander Stubb told the Finnish media in a telephone conversation with European leaders that Trump emphasized the need to put economic pressure on Russia, saying Europe must stop buying Russian oil and gas, which he said he is funding the war.
According to White House officials, Trump stressed that Russia received 1.1 billion euros of fuel sales from the EU in a year. Trump also emphasized that European leaders must put economic pressure on China to indirectly fund Russia’s war efforts, which are not authorized to comment publicly on private consultations and are not permitted to speak to them on condition of anonymity.
German government spokesman Stephen Cornelius laid out three “areas of action” that include German Prime Minister Friedrich Merz working towards the summit, including Zelensky, and said “we must agree to a ceasefire there.”
“If the Russian side continues to play for a while, Europe will increase the pressure on sanctions and increase the likelihood of a diplomatic solution,” the statement said.
The Ukrainian president said a meeting with Putin was necessary. “This is not a matter of desire. It’s an inevitable issue,” Zelenskyy said. “We support all forms, bilateral meetings, trilateral meetings. I think Russia is doing everything to postpone it.”
There was no immediate response from Russian officials.
Putin is isolated by Western leaders but is supported by war efforts — on Wednesday, believing that if common sense wins, he can agree to an acceptable option to end the conflict, adding that Trump has a “perfect desire” to reach a settlement.
Positive signal
In a policy shift earlier this month, the US sent a positive signal prepared to support Ukraine’s security assurance, similar to NATO’s collective defense mission. It is unclear what that support will actually look like. Ukraine wants ongoing US intelligence sharing and air support.
NATO Director General Mark Latte said a broad coalition of nations is needed to support Ukraine’s defense against Russian invasions and to strengthen Europe to block further military action by Moscow.
Citing officials from the European military and intelligence agency who warned of Russia’s plans to strike other European countries, Latte said, “We need to make sure that our deterrence is never attempted and that we know that the reaction is devastating.”
Latte also called the world “not naive about Russia.”
“We know what Putin is trying to do and as we speak there is evidence in Ukraine,” he said.
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, Russia launched 112 strikes and decoid drones across the country overnight on Thursday. Air defense intercepted or clogged 84 drones, according to the statement.
Russia announced Thursday that Estonia is expelling Estonian diplomats in a Tat-for-Tat movement after declaring Russian diplomats Persona Non Grata last month.
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Petrekin reported from London. Associated Press reporters from around the world contributed to this report.
