> At a Glance
> – 35 world leaders meet in Paris to craft Ukraine’s post-war security plan
> – Macron promised “concrete commitments” to deter future Russian attacks
> – Zelenskyy warns European troop deployment remains unfinalized
> – Why it matters: Outcome could determine how Ukraine defends itself after any ceasefire
Ukraine’s future security hangs in the balance as an unprecedented coalition of 35 nations gathers in Paris to hammer out a protection plan against potential Russian aggression following any ceasefire.
The Paris Summit
French President Emmanuel Macron convened the “coalition of the willing” with 27 heads of state attending in person, marking the largest gathering of its kind since the war began. The U.S. delegation, originally led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, shifted to Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner after Rubio’s last-minute Venezuela-related schedule change.
Macron’s office emphasized the summit aims to deliver concrete commitments across five critical areas:
- Monitoring any future ceasefire
- Sustaining Ukraine’s armed forces
- Deploying multinational forces across land, sea, and air
- Establishing response protocols for Russian aggression
- Creating long-term defense partnerships
Trump’s Greenland Comments Cloud Talks
Tensions emerged after President Trump renewed his push for U.S. control of Greenland, drawing sharp rebukes from Danish and Greenlandic leaders who warned such a move would destroy NATO. European leaders face a diplomatic tightrope – they need robust U.S. military backing for Ukraine while opposing Trump’s territorial ambitions.
Trump stated: “We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security and the European Union needs us to have it.”
Deployment Uncertainty
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed frustration over deployment delays, noting “important details remain unfinalized” and “not everyone is ready” to commit forces. Many nations require parliamentary approval for military deployments.
Zelenskyy emphasized: “Speaking frankly as president, even the very existence of the coalition depends on whether certain countries are ready to step up their presence.”
British and French nuclear forces remain essential to the plan, as other nations contribute through sanctions, financial aid, and humanitarian support rather than troops.
Recent Progress
Despite current tensions, Witkoff reported productive December discussions with European security advisers about “strengthening security guarantees and developing effective deconfliction mechanisms.” France and the UK have coordinated months of multinational planning to support a potential ceasefire.
| Key Challenge | Current Status |
|---|---|
| European Troop Deployment | Unfinalized, requires parliamentary approval |
| U.S. Leadership | Shifted from Rubio to Witkoff/Kushner |
| NATO Unity | Threatened by Greenland tensions |
| Coalition Size | 35 nations, 27 heads of state |
Key Takeaways
- Ukraine needs firm U.S. guarantees to secure commitments from other allies
- European troop deployment faces political and parliamentary hurdles
- Trump’s Greenland comments complicate NATO unity needed for Ukraine support
- The coalition’s credibility depends on nations’ willingness to commit forces
The Paris summit’s outcome will determine whether Ukraine receives the security guarantees it needs to consider any future ceasefire with Russia.
