European leaders will convene Paris on Thursday to raise the support for Ukraine, a “willingness of the willingness” who wants to help the country that has been a perforation of the war to fight against Russia despite the US commitment and to secure a possible peace.
France and Britain have pioneered these efforts, which led to a first meeting in Paris in February and a second in London earlier this month, as well as rallies of leading military leaders. More than 30 officials are expected to attend the meeting on Thursday, mainly European Heads of State and Government, as well as leading representatives of the European Union.
Who is willing to do what in this coalition, however, is still unclear, especially at a time when low growth and high debt complicate the equation for European countries trying to spend more about their military.
The biggest question mark is the idea of a possible “assurances” of European troops parked in Ukraine as soon as the conflict is over to prevent Russia from repeating its invasion in 2022. Britain and France have brought the idea, but so far no other country has unacceptable.
However, French officials say, the summit shows that the efforts of President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Britain to promote a common European response are rendering.
“We are and will remain decisively on the Ukraine side,” Mr Macron said at a press conference on Wednesday night, following a meeting in Paris with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Ukraine. “The future of the European continent and our safety are at stake.”
Mr Zelensky said he hoped for “strong new decisions” from rally on Thursday, where leaders are expected to discuss short -term military aid for Ukraine, efforts to support a future cease and reinforce the Ukrainian army.
It remains unclear what kind of role that the United States would be willing to play in European efforts. President Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, called on the idea to place a European power in Ukraine “simplistic” and “an attitude and attitude” – although Trump’s administration has repeatedly caused Europe to do too little to defend itself. Mr Trump has shown no willingness to provide US guarantees for Ukrainian security, which Mr Starmer said it would be required for most European countries to consider troops.
Mr Macron reiterated on Wednesday that any European force would not be on the front lines of the conflict and would not be tasked with monitoring or imposing a ceasefire-a job he proposed could fall on United Nations peacekeeping. Instead, he said, European troops will be based farther than the first lines to prevent Russia and help the training and support of Ukrainian forces.
“It is a peaceful approach,” Mr Macron insisted. “The only ones who would start a conflict or a war situation would be the Russians if they decided to start a new aggression.”
Mr Zelensky refused that, telling reporters that “no one wants to extend this war and take another country involved”. A foreign body, he said, will “control the situation, monitor it, conduct a joint training” and “will prevent Russia’s any desire from returning with renewed waves of aggression”.
A senior official in the French Presidency, who, according to French practice, informed reporters on the condition that European efforts to help Ukraine “have become transparently and in perfect harmony with our American associates, who are interested in this approach.”
The sudden policy of Trump’s administration is shifting and Europe’s urgent invitations to spend more on defense are a justification for Mr Macron, who has argued since the beginning of his presidency that Europe needed more “strategic autonomy” and less dependence on US military support.
Still, the French official acknowledged that they were not all countries that were not willing or able to put troops on the ground.
“There are different political traditions because the constitutions are different, because political sensitivities may vary,” the official said. “But everyone has their place in building steady security guarantees for Ukraine.”
Marks Landler They contributed reports.
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