Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky States Absence of Clear Defense Guarantee from European Partners

President Zelensky has stated that Ukraine's partners in Europe have failed to provide sound guarantees that they will defend Ukraine in the case of a future Russian attack.

"I continue to pose this critical question to all our partners and I have not received a definitive and straightforward response yet," he stated to the press on Wednesday.

These remarks follow a day after the UK and France inked a statement of purpose on deploying troops in Ukraine if a peace deal to end the war with Russia is finalized.

However, full security guarantees have yet to be solidified. The US, which has been spearheading initiatives to end the invasion, was reported to have abstained from signing such a commitment at discussions held in the French capital on the previous day.

Details of the Paris Talks

After the Paris talks, which included some three dozen nations that form the so-called Coalition of the Willing, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK and France would "establish military hubs across Ukraine" to prevent any future incursion, while France's President Macron later said thousands of troops may be sent.

Partner nations suggested that the US would assume a leading role in monitoring a truce. But the central sticking point of territorial concessions that Ukraine is being asked to grant to Russia as part of the peace proposals are continuing to be negotiated.

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

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the early months of 2022, and Moscow currently controls about one-fifth of Ukraine's land.

The President's Evolving Stance

Sir Keir described the bilateral declaration as "a vital part of our commitment to support Ukraine for the long-term".

He added: "It paves the way for the legal framework under which British, French and partner forces could function on Ukraine's territory, protecting Ukrainian airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's military for the future."

Zelensky hailed that agreement as a "huge step forward".

A day later, however, he seemed more cautious.

"I see the will, the political will, and that the partners are ready, and the allies are willing to give us robust economic measures, strong security guarantees," he said when questioned if nations in Europe would come to Ukraine's aid.

"However, until we lack such binding security pacts - legally binding, endorsed by legislatures, supported by the United States Congress - this crucial issue remains unresolved. And should they materialize, you must ultimately depend first and foremost on your own strength."

Persistent Challenges and Fighting

Negotiations in Paris were also significant owing to the presence of envoys from former President Trump's administration, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.

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

Last week, Zelensky said a settlement was "ninety percent complete".

Territorial concessions and security guarantees have been at the forefront of outstanding matters for diplomats.

Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Moscow will take control, rejecting any compromise over how to conclude hostilities.

The Ukrainian President has thus far rejected relinquishing any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could redeploy its forces to an agreed point - but only if Russia did the same.

Moscow currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast, and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The two regions form the Donbas industrial heartland.

Attacks have been escalating against cities in Ukraine - with a focus on energy infrastructure. Russia has also made incremental advances in capturing more Ukrainian territory.

Ukrainian forces have retaliated at objectives inside Russia with unmanned aerial vehicles, though with more limited success.