Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky States He Lacks Clear Defense Guarantee from European Partners

President Zelensky has stated that Ukraine's partners in Europe have not given him sound guarantees that they will defend Ukraine in the case of a fresh offensive by Russia.

"I am asking this very question to every one of our allies and I have not received a clear, unambiguous answer yet," he stated to the press on Wednesday.

His comments come a day after the UK and France signed a declaration of intent on stationing forces in Ukraine if a peace deal to end the war with Russia is reached.

However, comprehensive defense assurances have not been agreed. The United States, which has been leading efforts to halt the offensive, reportedly did not sign such a pledge at discussions held in the French capital on the previous day.

Details of the Paris Talks

Following the negotiations in Paris, which included some three dozen nations that comprise the group termed the 'Coalition of the Willing', British PM Keir Starmer said the UK and France would "establish military hubs across Ukraine" to deter future invasion, while France's President Macron subsequently indicated a significant number of soldiers may be deployed.

Partner nations suggested that the US would take the lead in overseeing any ceasefire. But the key issue of territorial concessions that Ukraine is being asked to grant to Russia as a component of the settlement terms are continuing to be negotiated.

The Russian government has not yet commented on the declaration made in the French capital.

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the early months of 2022, and Moscow now occupies about one-fifth of Ukraine's land.

Zelensky's Shifting Tone

The UK Prime Minister characterized the bilateral declaration as "an essential component of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the long-term".

He added: "It establishes the pathway for the legal framework under which allied military personnel could function on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine's skies and seas, and rebuilding Ukraine's armed forces for the years to come."

The Ukrainian leader praised that agreement as a "significant leap of progress".

A day later, however, he seemed more cautious.

"I perceive the determination, the political will, and that the allies are prepared, and the partners are ready to give us strong sanctions, strong security guarantees," he said when asked if European countries would come to Ukraine's aid.

"But as long as we don't have such security guarantees - legally binding, endorsed by legislatures, backed by the U.S. Congress - this crucial issue cannot be answered. And should they materialize, you still have to rely first and foremost on your inherent capabilities."

Persistent Challenges and Fighting

The Paris talks were also significant due to the attendance of envoys from former President Trump's administration, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.

Witkoff said the participating countries "mostly completed" their work on finalizing security arrangements.

Last week, the President indicated a peace deal was "ninety percent complete".

Questions of land and security guarantees have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for negotiators.

The Russian leader has consistently stated that Ukraine's military must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, dismissing potential concessions over how to end the war.

Zelensky has so far ruled out ceding any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an established line - but only if Russia did the same.

Moscow now holds about 75% of the Donetsk region, and some 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts constitute the industrial Donbas region.

It has been intensifying attacks against Ukrainian cities - particularly targeting power facilities. Russia has also made slow progress in capturing more Ukrainian territory.

Ukrainian forces have retaliated at Russian targets with unmanned aerial vehicles, albeit with varying degrees of effectiveness.