European Leaders Discuss Ukraine Security Guarantees Amid Russian Warning

European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, convened in Paris as part of the 'Coalition of the Willing' to discuss long-term security guarantees and military support for Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. The coalition aims to provide strong, multi-domain security guarantees, potentially involving the deployment of European forces and support for the Ukrainian navy to deter future Russian aggression once a ceasefire is achieved. US President Donald Trump participated remotely, sending his special envoy Steve Witkoff to engage with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, signaling possible US backing for these guarantees, which Zelenskyy emphasized must be robust across land, air, sea, and cyberspace. Moscow strongly opposed any foreign military presence in Ukraine, with Russian officials labeling such interventions as unacceptable and a threat to European security. Despite Russia’s warnings, European countries and the US continue to negotiate the nature of these guarantees to facilitate a peace deal, underscoring the delicate balance between deterrence and diplomatic efforts to end the war. The discussions reflect growing hopes in Kyiv for NATO-like collective defense assurances, with the coalition seeking political approval for the outlined security measures.