Zelensky Declares He Lacks Explicit Defense Guarantee from European Partners

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says European allies have failed to provide sound guarantees that they will protect his country in the event of a new Russian aggression.

"I continue to pose this critical question to every one of our allies and I have not received a clear, unambiguous answer yet," he told reporters on Wednesday.

His comments come a day after the UK and France inked a declaration of intent on stationing forces in Ukraine if a peace deal to conclude the conflict with Moscow is finalized.

However, full security guarantees have not been agreed. The United States, which has been spearheading initiatives to halt the offensive, was reported to have abstained from signing such a pledge at talks in Paris on Tuesday.

Outcomes from the Paris Discussions

After the Paris talks, which involved some three dozen nations that comprise the group termed the 'Coalition of the Willing', British PM Keir Starmer said the two nations would "set up operational bases across Ukraine" to deter future invasion, 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 overseeing any ceasefire. But the key issue of territorial concessions that Ukraine is being asked to grant to Russia as a component of the settlement terms are continuing to be negotiated.

Moscow has not yet commented on the declaration made in the French capital.

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a comprehensive military assault of Ukraine in the early months of 2022, and Russian forces now occupies about one-fifth of Ukraine's land.

The President's Evolving Stance

Sir Keir described the joint statement as "an essential component of our commitment to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future".

He continued: "It establishes the pathway for the juridical structure under which allied military personnel could function on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the years to come."

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

Twenty-four hours afterward, however, he appeared less optimistic.

"I perceive the determination, the political will, and that the allies are prepared, and the partners are ready to give us robust economic measures, strong security guarantees," he said when asked if nations in Europe would defend Ukraine.

"But as long as we lack such binding security pacts - legally binding, endorsed by legislatures, backed by the U.S. Congress - this crucial issue cannot be answered. And should they materialize, you still have to rely first and foremost on your own strength."

Persistent Challenges and Fighting

Negotiations in Paris were also notable due to the presence of US President Donald Trump's peace envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.

Witkoff said the participating countries "largely finished" their work on agreeing security protocols.

Recently, Zelensky said a settlement was "90% ready".

Questions of land and security guarantees have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for diplomats.

Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must pull back from the entirety of the Donbas region or Russia will seize it, rejecting any compromise over how to conclude hostilities.

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.

Moscow now holds about three-quarters of the Donetsk oblast, and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The pair of oblasts constitute the Donbas industrial heartland.

It has been intensifying attacks against Ukrainian cities - with a focus on power facilities. Russia has also made incremental advances in capturing more Ukrainian territory.

Ukrainian forces have retaliated at Russian targets with drones, albeit with varying degrees of effectiveness.