Consultations in Paris: Coalition of the willing struggles for military aid for Ukraine

The western supporters of Ukraine have come together in Paris for advice on military security guarantees for the country attacked by Russia. Under the chairmanship of France President Emmanuel Macron and the British Prime Minister Keir Strander, 35 heads of state and government partly switched on on site and by video how the security of Ukraine can be guaranteed after the end of the war. It is also about political and military commitments in the event of another Russian aggression.

The Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj and US special envoy Steve Witkoff are also on site. Macron wants to advance the plans of the so -called coalition of the willing and especially demonstrate the United States to take responsibility. After the Parisian consultations, US President Donald Trump should be informed by phone.

Macron: Concept for security guarantees

Already on the eve of the Paris meeting, Macron announced that the supporters had completed their preparations for security guarantees. Thanks to the preparatory work of the army cheers since the Ukraine summit in the White House, Europeans are now ready to give Ukraine security guarantees as soon as a peace agreement is signed. The concept drawn up by the army chiefs must now be politically approved.

So far, the coalition has not made any concrete public to what extent and to what extent the commitments actually go beyond increased military help. So far, it was above all talk that the defense capacity of the Ukrainian army in particular should be strengthened, but the possible posting of troops to Ukraine or close to its limits was also explicitly mentioned. According to information from military circles, a troop presence of European NATO countries in Ukraine could primarily be a large-scale training. Accordingly, it is not about a peace force in the classic sense.

Access from Washington is a long time coming

The main burden of an assignment would bear the European NATO members. The Europeans had repeatedly made it clear that it would not be possible without reinsurance through the United States. After Selenskyj’s recent visit to Washington, who had the heads of state and government of the most important European allies in tow, it looked as if US President Donald Trump could be moved to it. But concrete commitments from Washington were long in coming. The United States is now at least actively involved in the Paris meeting.

So far, most members of the coalition have taken a waiting attitude when it comes to sending troops. France and Great Britain agreed to send some thousand soldiers. There was also a promise from Denmark, Estonia and Lithuania. Sweden was ready to secure peace in Ukraine through airspace monitoring and from the sea. The Netherlands said they could help both in the air as well as water and land.

No plans for military operation in Germany

For Germany, the equipment of the Ukrainian armed forces initially has priority so that the country can defend itself. The government only wants to decide on everything else after a ceasefire. She rejects a public discussion about it at the present time. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made it clear this week that there are still no federal government plans for a possible participation in a military operation. The Chancellor only took part in the Paris meeting by video count.

The Czech Republic considers the discussion about the use of soldiers premature, Lithuania was cautious. Spain and Portugal indicated months ago that they could possibly participate in a peace mission.

Greece, Slovakia, Italy, Cyprus, Poland, Austria, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia and Hungary have already been rejected in the direction of soldiers in the direction of Ukraine. However, many of these countries were ready to support the securing of future peace in Ukraine in other ways, such as logistical help or the training of Ukrainian soldiers.

Putin remains with old demands

Whether there is a peace solution at all remains open. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin asked a press conference in China Selenskyj on Wednesday to come to Moscow if he wanted to talk to him. Russia is ready to continue waging war if an agreement is not agreed that is approved by Moscow, he said.

The spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Sacharova, said that Russia rejects the western considerations for security guarantees, including the posting of troops from NATO countries to Ukraine. “Russia will not discuss a deeply unacceptable and every security undergravating foreign intervention in Ukraine,” she said.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte defended the ongoing plans for European troops in Ukraine after a possible ceasefire with Russia. The Dutch made it clear that in his view it does not matter that Moscow rejects such a troop presence. “Why should we be interested in what Russia thinks about troops in Ukraine?” He asked rhetorically at an event in Prague. Ukraine is a sovereign country. And it was not about Russia to decide on a troop presence.