Coalition of Willing Meets in Paris to Finalize Ukraine Security Guarantees

A coalition of about 30 allied nations, led primarily by European countries and including Turkey, Australia, and Canada, convened in Paris to finalize security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that after months of military planning, Europe is ready to offer concrete security guarantees to Ukraine, aiming to strengthen peace prospects and deter future Russian aggression. However, these European efforts hinge critically on clear backing and security guarantees from the United States, which remain uncertain under President Donald Trump's administration. Trump indicated potential plans for a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin but did not commit to specific actions, leaving U.S. involvement ambiguous. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte emphasized Ukraine's sovereignty in deciding its security arrangements and acknowledged that Trump's push had motivated increased defense spending among NATO members, but he also noted the need for clarity on U.S. commitments. The coalition's ability to secure unified and robust support from the U.S. is seen as essential to presenting a credible deterrence strategy against Russia and ensuring the effectiveness of the proposed security guarantees.