European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met in Paris on Thursday for a high-stakes summit aimed at framing post-war security guarantees for Kyiv. The talks, co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, brought together a “coalition of the willing” of nearly 30 nations, including Canada, Australia, and Japan, alongside most European states.

The guarantees, still under wraps, are expected to cover expanded training for Ukrainian forces and possible deployment of European troops after a ceasefire—though this has stirred Russian fury. Moscow has dismissed the plan outright, with President Vladimir Putin warning that Russia will “resolve all tasks militarily” if necessary and rejecting the idea of foreign troops in Ukraine.

The initiative underscores Macron’s push to demonstrate European strategic autonomy after months of transatlantic uncertainty under US President Donald Trump. Washington, represented at the summit by Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, remains cautious; Trump has suggested the US could support Europe’s framework but ruled out sending American troops.

Yet European unity is fragile. Germany has resisted any troop commitment, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz insisting Berlin’s role will be limited to air defence and weapons supply. “Until a ceasefire is reached, there will certainly be no deployment of troops,” he said.

Zelensky, while welcoming Europe’s determination, stressed that guarantees alone may not be enough to deter Moscow. “We need an alliance between Europe and the United States,” he told Le Point.

The Paris summit follows Putin’s high-profile visits to Beijing and Washington, where he showcased ties with Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un. European leaders, however, struck a sharper tone. “Putin is a war criminal,” Merz declared, while Macron warned Europe faced “an ogre at our gates.”

European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met in Paris on Thursday for a high-stakes summit aimed at framing post-war security guarantees for Kyiv. The talks, co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, brought together a “coalition of the willing” of nearly 30 nations, including Canada, Australia, and Japan, alongside most European states.

The guarantees, still under wraps, are expected to cover expanded training for Ukrainian forces and possible deployment of European troops after a ceasefire—though this has stirred Russian fury. Moscow has dismissed the plan outright, with President Vladimir Putin warning that Russia will “resolve all tasks militarily” if necessary and rejecting the idea of foreign troops in Ukraine.

The initiative underscores Macron’s push to demonstrate European strategic autonomy after months of transatlantic uncertainty under US President Donald Trump. Washington, represented at the summit by Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, remains cautious; Trump has suggested the US could support Europe’s framework but ruled out sending American troops.

Yet European unity is fragile. Germany has resisted any troop commitment, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz insisting Berlin’s role will be limited to air defence and weapons supply. “Until a ceasefire is reached, there will certainly be no deployment of troops,” he said.

Zelensky, while welcoming Europe’s determination, stressed that guarantees alone may not be enough to deter Moscow. “We need an alliance between Europe and the United States,” he told Le Point.

The Paris summit follows Putin’s high-profile visits to Beijing and Washington, where he showcased ties with Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un. European leaders, however, struck a sharper tone. “Putin is a war criminal,” Merz declared, while Macron warned Europe faced “an ogre at our gates.”