French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 26 countries have expressed readiness to participate in a peace mission in Ukraine, promising “a guarantee for permanent security.”
Coalition of the Willing Summit
The summit of the “coalition of the willing” commenced in Paris with 35 representatives from various countries, including Prime Minister Donald Tusk, present either in person or via video. The summit aimed to address progress on security guarantees for Ukraine and demonstrate unity and strength of Ukraine’s allies in response to Vladimir Putin’s visit to China, where he met with many leaders from the Global South.
Peace Mission in Ukraine
Following the summit, French President Macron participated in a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He announced that 26 countries were ready to participate in a military mission in Ukraine guaranteeing peace. Macron stated that the readiness includes all areas of operations – land, sea, and air. He also mentioned that the United States will present its security guarantees in the coming days, while Ukraine will coordinate with Americans on sanctions against Russia. “Reassurance forces will be deployed in Ukraine,” Macron said, adding that there are currently a number of countries eager to participate in the peace mission.
Zelenski on Ukraine War
During the press conference, Zelensky stated that everyone can see that Russia rejects all attempts at peace. He mentioned the creation of the first set of security guarantees for Ukraine, with each country presenting its own participation independently. Zelensky emphasized that he counts on the involvement of the USA but believes that the foundation for these guarantees should be a strong Ukrainian army. He also called for an increase in the production capacity of Europe’s defense industry. Zelensky noted that he had also spoken with Donald Trump about increasing pressure on Russia.
