About 30 Western leaders gathered to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine, engaging in talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on March 27, 2024. This summit, involving both in-person and virtual participation, aims to solidify support for Ukraine in light of potential peace negotiations with Russia. The coalition includes leaders from major European nations, as well as representatives from Australia, Canada, and Japan.
The discussions come against a backdrop of uncertainty regarding military commitments. While the coalition has been working to define its prospective military support for Ukraine, the absence of a clear backing from the United States has complicated their efforts. U.S. President Donald Trump has yet to explicitly commit to providing necessary security guarantees, which are viewed as essential for any European military role in Ukraine.
During the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that coalition leaders would endorse military plans aimed at providing security guarantees to Ukraine in the event of a signed peace agreement. “We are ready, us Europeans, to provide security guarantees to Ukraine,” Macron affirmed alongside Zelenskiy in Paris.
The discussions are significant as they also aim to send a political message to Trump, highlighting the stagnation in direct peace talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskiy. Recent interactions, including Trump’s meetings with Putin, have not yielded substantial progress towards negotiations.
In a related development, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte expressed optimism that the meeting would lead to more intense discussions with Washington regarding the guarantees it could offer Ukraine. Rutte emphasized the importance of continuing strong support for Ukraine’s armed forces and mentioned the potential establishment of an international force to assist Kyiv.
Despite this, significant divisions remain among coalition members. A source from the German government indicated that while there is political pressure to provide support, military commitments, particularly concerning troop deployments in Lithuania, pose challenges. Rutte further noted that Russia’s perspective should not dictate the actions of sovereign nations, stating, “Why are we interested in what Russia thinks about troops in Ukraine?”
European leaders have underscored that any substantial military support would require backing from the U.S., a promise Trump made in vague terms in August. However, the specific contributions Washington is prepared to make remain unclear, leaving coalition members apprehensive about the future of their commitments.
Following the summit, some leaders plan to reach out to Trump to discuss the outcomes and their implications for Ukraine’s security. As the situation develops, the coalition continues to navigate complex geopolitical dynamics while striving to reinforce Ukraine’s defenses against potential aggression.
