26 Nations Pledge Ukraine Security Guarantees; Russia Rejects Plan

A coalition of 26 countries, primarily European, has pledged to provide security guarantees to Ukraine by deploying a reassurance force of troops by land, sea, and air following any ceasefire or peace deal with Russia, aiming to deter future Russian aggression. This initiative, championed at a Paris summit by leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, is seen as a vital step to reinforce Ukraine’s military and ensure its post-war safety. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kremlin officials have strongly rejected these plans, warning that any foreign troops entering Ukraine would be considered legitimate targets, and denouncing the security guarantees as provocations and threats to European stability. Russian officials also criticized the European countries’ efforts, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accusing them of trying to prolong the war. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration during a call with coalition leaders, condemning continued European purchases of Russian oil and urging greater pressure on China, as he continues efforts to negotiate directly with Putin. Ukrainian officials emphasize the complexity of establishing security guarantees, highlighting ongoing diplomatic and military coordination to define deployment roles and protocols for the reassurance force.