Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says European allies have not given him sound guarantees that they will protect his country in the case of 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.
However, 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.
Following the Paris talks, which included around 30 countries forming the so-called Coalition of the Willing, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer emphasized plans to establish military hubs across Ukraine to deter future invasions. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned that thousands of troops might be deployed.
However, the significant issue of territorial concessions that Ukraine is being asked to grant to Russia as part of the peace proposals remains under discussion.
Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, Russia has controlled about 20% of Ukrainian territory.
During a subsequent press conference, Zelensky emphasized the necessity for legally binding security guarantees that must be supported by parliaments and the United States Congress. He expressed a commitment to rely primarily on Ukraine's own strength until such guarantees are in place.
The situation underscores the challenges Ukraine faces amidst ongoing military pressures from Russia, as negotiations for a potential peace settlement continue.
