Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Western allies have yet to provide legally binding guarantees to protect his country from future Russian aggression, despite a landmark military pledge from the UK and France.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Mr Zelensky struck a more cautious tone than in his New Year address, in which he claimed a peace deal was “90% ready.”
“I am asking this very question to all our partners and I have not received a clear, unambiguous answer yet,” he said.
A ‘Coalition of the Willing’
His comments follow a high-stakes summit in Paris on Tuesday, where a “Coalition of the Willing” comprising 30 nations discussed the framework for ending the four-year conflict.
In a significant move, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron signed a declaration of intent to deploy troops to Ukraine if a peace deal is reached. Sir Keir said the plan involved establishing “military hubs” across the country to deter any future Russian invasion.
However, a major gap remains: the United States—represented at the talks by President Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner—did not sign the pledge.
The ‘Legal’ Hurdle
While Mr Zelensky described the UK-French commitment as a “huge step forward,” he noted that political will is not the same as a legal safeguard.
“As long as we don’t have such security guarantees—legally binding, supported by parliaments, supported by the United States Congress—this question cannot be answered,” he said. “Even if they do, you still have to rely primarily on your own strength.”
The sticking points remain:
- US Involvement: While US envoys said work on security protocols was “largely finished,” Washington has not yet committed to a boots-on-the-ground presence.
- Territorial Concessions: Negotiators are still grappling with the “thorny” issue of land. Russia currently occupies roughly 20% of Ukraine, including most of the industrial Donbas region.
- Russian Demands: Vladimir Putin continues to demand a total Ukrainian withdrawal from the east, a condition Mr. Zelensky has so far rejected.
War of Attrition
On the ground, the conflict shows no signs of slowing down. Russia continues to launch daily strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure and residential areas, including recent heavy bombardment of Kharkiv.
While the Paris talks have raised hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough, Moscow has yet to officially comment on the UK and France’s proposal to put European troops on the front line.
Sir Keir Starmer maintained that the agreement “paves the way for the legal framework” to secure Ukraine’s skies and seas for the long term. But for many in Kyiv, the lack of a firm signature from the US Congress remains the biggest obstacle to a lasting peace.
Add Comment