Zelensky States He Lacks Explicit Security Pledge from Partner Nations
President Zelensky has stated that European allies have not given him concrete pledges that they will protect his country in the case of a fresh offensive by Russia.
"I continue to pose this critical question to every one of our allies and I have not received a clear, unambiguous answer yet," he told reporters on midweek.
His comments come a day after Britain and France inked a statement of purpose on stationing forces in Ukraine if a peace deal to end the war with Russia is finalized.
However, comprehensive defense assurances have not been agreed. The US, which has been spearheading initiatives to end the invasion, was reported to have abstained from signing such a commitment at discussions held in the French capital on Tuesday.
Details of the Paris Talks
Following the negotiations in Paris, which included some three dozen nations that form the group termed the 'Coalition of the Willing', British PM Keir Starmer said the UK and France would "set up operational bases across Ukraine" to prevent any future incursion, while French President Emmanuel Macron later said a significant number of soldiers may be deployed.
Allies proposed that the United States would take the lead in monitoring a truce. But the key issue of ceding land that Ukraine is being pressured to offer to Russia as part of the peace proposals are still being discussed.
Moscow has thus far remained silent on the announcement made in the city of Paris.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the early months of 2022, and Moscow currently controls about one-fifth of Ukraine's land.
Zelensky's Shifting Tone
The UK Prime Minister characterized the joint statement as "an essential component of our dedication to stand with Ukraine for the long-term".
He added: "It paves the way for the legal framework under which British, French and partner forces could function on Ukraine's territory, securing Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the future."
The Ukrainian leader praised that agreement as a "huge step forward".
A day later, however, he seemed more cautious.
"I perceive the determination, the political will, and that the partners are ready, and the allies are willing to give us strong sanctions, powerful defense assurances," he said when questioned if European countries would come to Ukraine's aid.
"However, until we lack such binding security pacts - legally binding, endorsed by legislatures, backed by the U.S. Congress - this crucial issue cannot be answered. And even if they do, you must ultimately depend first and foremost on your own strength."
Persistent Challenges and Fighting
The Paris talks were also significant due to the attendance of envoys from former President Trump's administration, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
One envoy stated the participating countries "mostly completed" their work on agreeing security protocols.
Recently, Zelensky said a settlement was "ninety percent complete".
Questions of land and defense pledges have been at the center of unresolved issues for negotiators.
Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's military must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, rejecting any compromise over how to end the war.
The Ukrainian President has thus far rejected ceding any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an established line - but only if Russia did the same.
Moscow currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast, and some nearly all of the neighbouring Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the industrial Donbas region.
It has been intensifying attacks against Ukrainian cities - with a focus on energy infrastructure. Moscow is also achieving incremental advances in seizing additional Ukrainian land.
Ukrainian forces have retaliated at Russian targets with unmanned aerial vehicles, albeit with varying degrees of effectiveness.