Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says European allies have not given him sound guarantees that they will protect his country in the case of a new Russian aggression.
I am asking this very question to all our partners and I have not received a clear, unambiguous answer yet, he told reporters on Wednesday.
His comments come a day after the UK and France signed a declaration of intent on deploying troops in Ukraine if a peace deal to end the war with Russia is agreed.
But full security guarantees have not been agreed. The US, which has been leading efforts to end the invasion, reportedly did not sign such a pledge at talks in Paris on Tuesday.
After the Paris talks, which included some 30 countries that form the so-called Coalition of the Willing, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK and France would establish military hubs across Ukraine to deter future invasion, while French President Emmanuel Macron later said thousands of troops may be deployed.
Allies proposed that the US would take the lead in monitoring a truce. But the key issue of territorial concessions that Ukraine is being asked to grant to Russia as part of the peace proposals are still being discussed.
Moscow has not yet commented on the announcement made in the French capital.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.
Sir Keir described the joint statement as a vital part of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the long-term and added that it would create a legal framework for the operation of British, French, and partner forces on Ukrainian soil.
Zelensky hailed that agreement as a huge step forward but later expressed concerns over the lack of legally binding guarantees supported by allied parliaments.
Last week, Zelensky stated a peace deal was 90% ready; however, the unresolved issues of territorial concessions and security guarantees remain critical points in negotiations. The ongoing conflict continues to see Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities, exacerbating the need for international support and clearer commitments from allies.
