Kyiv [Ukraine], March 28: No agreement was reached on Thursday on deploying European forces to secure a future ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia at a Paris summit of Kiev's allies.
The deployment of these troops is a British-French proposal, said French President Emmanuel Macron after the discussions of the so-called "coalition of the willing" in which senior representatives from 31 countries participated.
"These reassurance forces are a French-British proposal," Macron said. "It is desired by Ukraine and noted by several member states that have expressed their willingness to join," he added. However, the proposal was not unanimously adopted, according to the French president. The military chiefs of staff from France and the United Kingdom will travel to Ukraine in the next few days to assess military needs that Europe can help with, Macron stated.
He added that Ukraine knows what it needs, including critical areas where it wants these European forces deployed. Nothing is excluded and they will be looking at land, air and sea forces, Macron said.
Europeans have been scrambling to come to Ukraine's aid as US President Donald Trump takes a more deferential approach to Moscow, calling into question Washington's long-term support for Kiev. Acting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz once again expressed caution about Germany's participation in a possible peacekeeping force in Ukraine.
He pointed out that it is not yet clear whether and in what form such a peacekeeping force will exist. "In this respect, we are concentrating on what is immediately at hand," he said.
Scholz said this included further strengthening the Ukrainian armed forces, adding: "Germany has been a leader in Europe in this regard in recent years and will remain so."
Despite the lack of consensus, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the summit as further evidence of Europe's unity and emphasized the need to strengthen the Ukrainian armed forces.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused Russia of playing for time in the ceasefire negotiations. He also stressed the need to increase economic pressure on Russia through tougher sanctions.
Source: Qatar Tribune
