Heads of state and government of supporting states Ukraine are negotiating in Paris on concrete commitments that will ensure the security of the country after a future ceasefire. It will be the first time since March 2025 that representatives of all 35 members of the so-called Coalition of the Willing will meet in person, the French presidential office said. In addition to 27 heads of state and government, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, representatives of the EU and NATO as well as US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are taking part in the meeting.
Zelensky had announced the meeting after his summit with US President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida at the end of December. At the time, the Ukrainian president stated that the goal was to obtain binding security commitments from Ukraine supporting states by the end of January as part of a joint peace plan.
For the first time since Trump took office, there could be a united position that will then be negotiated with Russia. At the Zelensky-Trump meeting at the end of December, to which European heads of government were also present at times, no such agreement had been reached. Previously, the so-called 28-point plan USA too violent Criticism from Ukraine’s European supporting countries led and a revised by Ukraine, plan reduced to 20 points did not receive US support.
According to the draft, security commitments should be legally binding
Out of concern about future Russian attacks, Ukraine is demanding binding security commitments as a condition for responding to certain Russian demands, even after a hypothetical ceasefire. However, it is questionable whether this will be enough to bring about an end to the war, as so far these have only been agreements between Ukraine and its supporters, the outcome of which will presumably depend on Russia’s approval. Nevertheless, it would be an important interim step for Ukraine to obtain binding commitments.
According to media reports, the latter provides for a draft of the expected declaration, which will be negotiated until then. “We have now agreed on the operational modalities of these security guarantees,” said the French presidential office. In Paris “what military secrecy allows us to say” will be announced.
US should monitor ceasefire and support European troops
According to the draft, the US would lead monitoring of a future ceasefire in Ukraine. In addition, the USA should undertake to support a planned international force led by European countries in Ukraine “in the event” of a future Russian attack – for example with reconnaissance and logistics. There are already military plans “for security measures in the air, at sea and on land as well as for the reconstruction of the Ukrainian armed forces,” the draft says.
The legally binding commitments concern, among other things, “the use of military capabilities, intelligence and logistical support, diplomatic initiatives and the introduction of additional sanctions” in the event of a renewed Russian attack on Ukraine. However, details of the plans for a possible peacekeeping force are not yet known.
The USA had ruled out providing soldiers for this. At the same time, Russia ruled out agreeing to stationing Western soldiers in Ukraine. A concrete agreement on this could make further negotiations with Russia more difficult. It would also depend on the USA standing behind the commitments agreed with Ukraine and its European partners and on a possible agreement in Paris no longer be considered a subject of negotiation in talks with Russia without Ukraine’s consent.
France sees “re-rapprochement” between Ukraine, Europe and the USA
The French presidency was nevertheless optimistic about the prospects for an agreement: Above all, the participation of US negotiators Witkoff and Kushner in the meeting was a sign of “re-rapprochement” between Ukraine, Europe and the USA. The coalition of the willing has achieved “that the USA does not let Ukraine fall.” Zelensky announcedto meet with Kushner and Witkoff in addition to discussions with all parties involved.
In addition to questions of monitoring a future ceasefire line and US involvement in securing a European mission, legally binding commitments for the modernization of the Ukrainian armed forces will also be central: the most important security guarantee remains the Ukrainian military, the French presidential office announced.
