Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Asserts Absence of Explicit Defense Guarantee from European Partners

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine's partners in Europe have not given him sound guarantees that they will protect his country in the event of a fresh offensive by Russia.

"I continue to pose this critical question to every one of our allies and thus far, the answer remains elusive a definitive and straightforward response yet," he told reporters on Wednesday.

These remarks follow a day after the UK and France signed a declaration of intent on deploying troops in Ukraine if a peace deal to end the war with Russia is agreed.

However, comprehensive defense assurances have not been agreed. The United States, which has been leading efforts to end the invasion, was reported to have abstained from signing such a pledge at talks in Paris on the previous day.

Outcomes from the Paris Discussions

Following the negotiations in Paris, which involved some three dozen nations that form the so-called Coalition of the Willing, British PM Keir Starmer said the two nations would "establish military hubs across Ukraine" to deter future invasion, while France's President Macron later said a significant number of soldiers may be deployed.

Partner nations suggested that the United States would take the lead in overseeing any ceasefire. But the central sticking point of ceding land that Ukraine is being pressured to offer to Russia as a component of the settlement terms are still being discussed.

Moscow has not yet commented on the declaration made in the city of Paris.

President Putin initiated a comprehensive military assault of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

Zelensky's Shifting Tone

Sir Keir described the joint statement as "an essential component of our commitment to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future".

He continued: "It paves the way for the legal framework under which allied military personnel could function on Ukraine's territory, protecting Ukrainian airspace and waters, and regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the future."

The Ukrainian leader praised that accord 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, powerful defense assurances," he said when questioned if European countries would come to Ukraine's aid.

"But as long as we lack such security guarantees - formally ratified, supported by parliaments, backed by the U.S. Congress - this question cannot be answered. And even if they do, you still have to rely primarily on your own strength."

Persistent Challenges and Fighting

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

Witkoff said the allies "mostly completed" their work on agreeing security protocols.

Recently, Zelensky said a settlement was "ninety percent complete".

Territorial concessions and defense pledges have been at the center of outstanding matters for diplomats.

Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, dismissing potential concessions over how to conclude hostilities.

Zelensky has so far ruled out relinquishing any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could redeploy its forces to an agreed point - but only if Russia reciprocated the action.

Moscow currently controls about three-quarters of the Donetsk oblast, and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The two regions constitute the Donbas industrial heartland.

Attacks have been escalating against cities in Ukraine - particularly targeting energy infrastructure. Moscow is also achieving incremental advances in capturing more Ukrainian territory.

Ukrainian forces have retaliated at Russian targets with unmanned aerial vehicles, albeit with varying degrees of effectiveness.