"These security guarantees will be implemented the day the war ends," French president Emmanuel Macron stated during a joint press conference with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysee Palace in Paris on 4/9.

The announcement followed a summit of 35 leaders in a "coalition of goodwill," primarily European nations, aimed at finalizing security guarantees for Ukraine and urging US president Donald Trump to support these proposals.

According to Macron, 26 countries have committed to guaranteeing Kyiv's security after the war and will deploy land, sea, and air forces to Ukraine to achieve this goal. He did not specify the countries involved.

The French president added that some countries would provide security guarantees without deploying troops to Ukraine. Instead, they would offer support in other ways, such as training soldiers and providing equipment to Ukrainian forces. Macron also did not specify how many foreign troops would be involved in securing Ukraine.

Presidents Zelensky (left) and Macron at a joint press conference at the Elysee Palace on 4/9. Photo: AFP

Presidents Zelensky (left) and Macron at a joint press conference at the Elysee Palace on 4/9. Photo: AFP

Germany stated it would only decide on military commitments when clear conditions were in place, such as the level of US involvement. Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni confirmed that her country would not send troops to Ukraine but was prepared to monitor a ceasefire and train Ukrainian troops outside the country.

Bulgarian prime minister Rosen Zhelyazkov indicated that Bulgaria had no plans to send troops to Ukraine but was willing to contribute to efforts in the Black Sea, such as minesweeping.

Meanwhile, France and the UK expressed their willingness to deploy troops to Ukraine after the war.

"We are considering the extent to which each country will participate in the guarantees. 26 countries have agreed. This is the first time such a serious and concrete commitment has been made after such a long time," Zelensky said.

Macron, along with European leaders and the Ukrainian president, held a phone call with president Donald Trump after the summit. Macron added that the level of US contribution to security guarantees would be agreed upon in the coming days. According to a White House official, during the call, Trump urged Europe to stop buying Russian oil.

European governments stated that forces in Ukraine would require security assurances from the US as a "precautionary measure." Trump has not made any clear commitments on this matter.

On 3/9, Russian president Vladimir Putin warned that Russia would continue its special military operation to end the war in Ukraine by force if the parties did not reach a peace agreement. He also rejected the possibility of a peace agreement that included NATO troops being deployed to Ukraine.

Huyen Le (Reuters)