European leaders will convene in Paris on Thursday to strengthen their support for Ukraine. Ukraine wants to help a war-torn country fight Russia and protect its ultimate peace despite shaking American commitments.
France and the UK are spearheading these efforts, hosting their first meeting in Paris in February, leading to a second meeting in London earlier this month and a gathering of top military chiefs. More than 30 officials are scheduled to attend the meeting on Thursday, with mostly European heads of state and top European Union representatives going to attend as well.
But who willing to do what in this coalition is still unknown, especially at a time when low growth and high debt complicates the equations of European countries where they are trying to spend more on the military.
The biggest question mark is the idea of ​​the potential “secure power” of European troops stationed in Ukraine once the conflict is over to prevent Russia from repeating its 2022 invasion. The British and France have brought this idea to light, but so far no other nations have violated the military to such forces.
Still, French officials have shown at the summit meeting that the efforts of President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer to win a joint European response are paying off.
“We will remain firmly on the side of Ukraine,” Macron said at a press conference Wednesday evening after a meeting in Paris with Ukrainian President Volodimia Zelensky. “The future of the European continent and our safety are at stake.”
Zelensky said he hopes for a “strong new decision” from the gathering on Thursday. There, leaders are expected to discuss short-term military aid in Ukraine, efforts to support future ceasefires and strengthen Ukrainian forces.
It remains unclear what role the US will play in European efforts. President Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkov, called on the idea of ​​stationing Ukrainian European troops with “simplification” and “stance and pose.” Trump has not shown any willingness to provide US guarantees about Ukraine's security. This states that most European countries should consider committing their troops.
Macron reiterated Wednesday that European troops are not on the frontlines of conflict and will not be tasked with monitoring or enforcing ceasefires. Instead, he said European troops are based far from the frontline to block Russia and to help train and support the Ukrainian army.
“It's a pacifist approach,” Macron argued. “The only people who will launch conflict or belligerent situations are the Russians if they decide to launch a new attack.”
Reflecting this, Zelensky told reporters, “No one wants to extend this war and involve another country.” He said foreign conditions “control the situation, monitor it, carry out joint training” and “prevent the desire to return with a new wave of Russian attacks.”
A senior official in the French presidency explained reporters about anonymity in line with French practices, saying that European efforts to support Ukraine are “in transparent and perfectly harmonious with the American partners who were interested in this approach and who said it was a good one.”
The Trump administration's sudden policy change and urgent calls to spend more on Europe's defense are evidence for Macron, who has argued that Europe needs more “strategic autonomy” and that it is less dependent on US military support.
Still, French officials acknowledged that not all countries either want or can put their troops on the ground.
“There are different political traditions because the constitutions are different and there are different political sensibilities,” the official said. “But everyone has a place to build solid security assurances for Ukraine.”
Marklandler Reports of contributions.
