PARIS (AP) \u2014 Ukraine\u2019s allies said they made major progress Tuesday toward agreeing on how to defend the country if a peace deal is struck with Russia, saying they were ready to provide international guarantees to deter Moscow from attacking its neighbor again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Plans discussed at a key meeting in Paris included having the U.S. lead an effort to monitor any ceasefire \u2014 which could give Washington a direct role in keeping any peace with Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leaders from 27 European countries and Canada, as well as U.S. representatives and top officials from the European Union and NATO, said they would provide Kyiv\u2019s front-line forces with equipment and training and back them up with air, land and sea support to deter any future Russian attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was the 15th and largest meeting of the so-called \u201ccoalition of the willing\u201d \u2014 involving more heads of state and governments than ever and U.S. envoys in person for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The post-ceasefire architecture would also include beefing up Ukraine\u2019s war-battered army, including by replenishing its weapons stocks, so it could act as the country\u2019s front-line deterrence against a resumption of fighting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was no immediate comment from officials in Russia on Tuesday, which was the eve of Orthodox Christmas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The size of the supporting forces was not made public, and many of the details of the plan \u2014 which would only apply if a ceasefire enters into force \u2014 remain unclear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the meeting made \u201cexcellent progress\u201d but cautioned that \u201cthe hardest yards are still ahead,\u201d noting that Russian attacks on Ukraine continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moscow has revealed few details of its stance in the U.S.-led peace negotiations. Officials have reaffirmed Russia\u2019s demands and have insisted there can be no ceasefire until a comprehensive settlement is agreed. Russian President Vladimir Putin has ruled out any deployment of troops from NATO countries on Ukrainian soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Starmer added that there can only be peace if Russia compromises, and added: \u201cPutin is not showing that he is ready for peace.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the event of a ceasefire, Starmer said the U.K. and France \u201cwill establish military hubs across Ukraine and build protected facilities for weapons and military equipment to support Ukraine\u2019s defensive needs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed progress was made in the talks, although commitments need to be ratified by each country so that they can be put in place after any settlement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe determined what countries are ready to take leadership in the elements of security guarantees on the ground, in the air, and at sea, and in restoration,\u201d Zelenskyy told a news conference in Paris. \u201cWe determined what forces are needed. We determined, how these forces will be operated and at what levels of command.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said the U.S. \u201cstrongly stands behind\u201d security guarantees. Trump\u2019s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who also participated in the meeting, called the Paris meeting \u201ca very, very, big milestone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis does not mean we will make peace, but peace would not be possible without the progress that we have made today,\u201d Kushner said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
French President Emmanuel Macron said the security statement endorsed by Ukraine\u2019s allies is a \u201csignificant step\u201d toward ending Russia\u2019s invasion. The coalition plans also envisage a Ukrainian army with 800,000 troops, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A joint statement issued following the meeting said the allies also agreed to continue long-term military assistance and armament to Ukraine\u2019s armed forces, which \u201cwill remain the first line of defense and deterrence\u201d after any peace deal is signed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The allies still must finalize \u201cbinding commitments\u201d setting out what they will do to support Ukraine, the statement said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The outcome of the meeting had been uncertain as the Trump administration\u2019s focus is shifting to Venezuela, while U.S. suggestions of a Greenland takeover caused tension with Europe, and Moscow shows no signs of compromise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A series of meetings on the summit\u2019s sidelines illustrated the intensity of the diplomatic effort and the complexity of its moving parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zelenskyy met with Macron ahead of the summit. French, British and Ukrainian military chiefs also met, with NATO\u2019s top commander, U.S. Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich, participating in talks that France\u2019s army chief said focused on implementing security guarantees. Army chiefs from other coalition nations joined by video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Macron\u2019s office said the U.S. delegation was initially set to be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, but he changed his plans after the U.S. military intervention in Venezuela.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump on Sunday renewed his call for the U.S. to take control of Greenland, a strategic, mineral-rich Arctic island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the U.K. on Tuesday joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in defending Greenland\u2019s sovereignty in the wake of Trump\u2019s comments about the self-governing territory of the kingdom of Denmark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Macron on Tuesday declined answering a question on Greenland as he was speaking about Ukraine alongside U.S. envoys Kushner and Witkoff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fighting Tuesday, Ukraine\u2019s Security Service carried out drone strikes on a military arsenal and an oil depot deep inside Russia, according to a security official who was not authorized to comment publicly and thus spoke on condition of anonymity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The long-range drones hit the arsenal in Russia\u2019s Kostroma region, triggering explosions that lasted for hours and forced the evacuation of nearby settlements, the official said. The site was described as a key logistics hub supplying ammunition in western and central Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a separate strike, Ukraine Security Service drones hit an oil depot in Russia\u2019s Lipetsk region, causing a huge fire, the official said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
John Leicester in Paris; Volodymyr Yurchuk in Kyiv, Ukraine; Will Weissert in Washington; Jill Lawless in London and Barry Hatton in Lisbon, Portugal, contributed.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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