French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday the commitment of 26 countries to deploy forces in Ukraine as part of a “confidence-building” initiative on land, sea, and air to support peace after the war ends, emphasizing that this force is not intended for direct confrontation with Russia.
During a press conference following a meeting of the “Alliance of Willing” in Paris, Macron stated that the United States will participate in the matter of security guarantees, and the form of U.S. support for Ukraine’s security efforts will be determined in the coming days.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated the importance of a strong Ukrainian army and U.S. involvement in security guarantees, asserting that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invitation for a meeting in Moscow is merely a signal of Moscow’s rejection of any peace initiative.
European Council President Antonio Costa confirmed that the meeting is a crucial step towards unifying European efforts to enhance security guarantees for Ukraine, clarifying that the alliance is capable of implementing its plans and continues to pressure Russia through additional sanctions.
In a related context, U.S. President Donald Trump urged European leaders to stop purchasing Russian oil, warning against continued funding for Moscow’s war, while the European Commission aims to cease the EU’s imports of Russian oil and gas by 2028.
