Countries led by Macron commit to dispatching troops to serve as a post-conflict reassurance force for Ukraine.
In a coordinated effort to bring an end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, European leaders have been engaging in discussions with the US and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Following a meeting in Paris, the leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the fighting in Ukraine. The discussions, which also involved US President Donald Trump, were aimed at securing a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine.
In a significant move, 26 of Ukraine's allies have pledged to deploy a "reassurance force" for Ukraine after the conflict with Russia ends. This force, which will consist of troops, land, sea, or air presence, is aimed at ensuring Ukraine's security post-ceasefire or peace. The force does not have the intention of waging war against Russia but aims to prevent any new major aggression and involve the 26 states in the lasting security of Ukraine.
The "reassurance force" is part of a coalition led by France and supported by NATO and the European Commission. The coalition includes several European countries, Ukraine, Turkey, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and others. However, the exact names of all 26 countries have not been publicly listed in detail.
British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has emphasized the need for the United States' backing for any European "reassurance" force in Ukraine. In response, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude about the US's willingness to be part of the plan but did not provide specific details about the format of US participation. Macron stated that the planning work for the "reassurance force" will be finalized with the United States.
Trump also urged European leaders to place economic pressure on China for indirectly funding Russia's war efforts. He emphasized the need for Europe to stop the purchase of Russian oil and gas, which he claimed was funding the war. The German government has suggested that European sanctions on Russia may increase if Moscow continues to drag its feet.
The commitment to deploy the "reassurance force" was made after a meeting in Paris of the "coalition of the willing", a group of 35 countries that support Ukraine. The source of this information is a White House official who spoke on the condition of anonymity about the private talks.
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