The summit of the 33 “forces of goodwill” to guarantee the peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine ended at lunchtime in Paris, after three hours of debate. Their intentions of being safety guarantors for kyiv are evolving and are differentiated.
French and British teams will be sent in the next few days to Ukraine “To work with kyiv’s armed forces” and help them plan their future. “It will be to prepare the format of the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” said President Emmanuel Macron. If they decide to send military forces, the British Parliament should vote.
This was the announcement of President Emmanuel Macron after the end of the summit in his press conference and in a different tone from the British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
What forces would they go?
Macron said that currently There is no unanimity about sending a security forceled by Europe. Although he added that it is not necessary to move forward with it.
Macron announced that a “reinsurance force” in Ukraine will act as a security guarantee and will be deployed the day after a peace agreement.
The term is different from the “peace maintenance” force, which has been discussed so far.
“The idea arose from the British and French initiative at the request of Ukraine”Macron said.
He added that “the force is in the planning phase.” But that will not replace peace maintenance troops that keep any fire.
The French leader said that several states will contribute to force. But that will not be in the contact line, It will be displayed in “strategic areas.”
He also pointed out that not all the countries of the coalition that will meet will participate. “It’s not unanimous,” he said. But he added: “We don’t need unanimity to achieve it.”
“This reinsurance force should not replace peace maintenance forces in the contact line or the strong and robust Ukrainian army,” he added, adding that conversations will be held in this regard.
But he clarified that There is a broader agreement that any future “security guarantee” It must be based on three pillars:
-A strong Ukrainian army, with a Franco-British joint mission that will travel to kyiv to explore the needs and what can be done to support its future army.
-A force of “reinsurance”, which according to him, would not be parked in the line of the conflict, but would offer support in “strategic” areas.
He recalled that “the negotiations have begun.” And sought to preserve the link with the United States. He praised the role of US President Donald Trump “and the courage of President Zelenski”, present at the summit with absent Americans. Emmanuel Macron also insisted on the need to “place Ukraine in the best possible position to negotiate a solid and lasting peace.”
Nuances
Macron resorted to what he calls a “reinsurance force” at the press conference after the meeting at the Eliseo Palace. It is a markedly different term from “peace maintenance”, which has been discussed so far. He explained that this security force is still in its planning phase. But that will not be “a peacekeeping force.”
“We will have conversations among our military leaders To determine the locations, The number of forces that will be deployed to be credible and capacities, “he said.
“Nothing has been ruled out. As for naval, terrestrial and aerial forces, this security force … should not replace the peace forces on the contact line or the strong and robust Ukrainian army,” he said at the press conference.
The French president said that today it was decided to commission the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Coalition, who present proposals on how the high fire could be supervised. They have three weeks to present it.
“Now is not the time to raise Russia sanctions”the French president insisted. Today’s meeting “unanimously agreed” that “now is not the time to raise the sanctions in any way,” said Emmanuel Macron. “There cannot be a lifting of sanctions before peace is established,” he said.
He also assured that the “goodwill” aims to “maintain economic pressure on the shade (Russian) fleet and some industrial capabilities, and we will remain mobilized in this issue.”
The United States had decided to lift certain sanctions to Russia.
When the French chancellor landed in Beijing to speak with his pair, President Macron said that China has a role to play in the creation of this peace. Especially its president Xi Jinping.
So far China, member of the UN Security Council, He has not condemned the invasion of Ukraine but it opposes the use of nuclear weapons in the conflict and has been sanctioned with tariffs by Trump. The goal is to approach Europe.
Russian frozen goods can serve as a background for reconstruction but not be used now, according to Macron.
“The United States continues to be a viable ally,” Macron said, after knowing the insults to Europe of important officials and the American vice president. But he said “Europe must be prepared in the case of the United States is not with us.”
A different tone of Great Britain
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer chose the British embassy, next to the Elisha, to expose his position. But a different tone was tone from Macron or his enthusiasm.
Are Starmer and Trump very distanced in his vision of Ukraine? At least in enthusiasm and approach.
“The group of countries asked Emmanuel and me to lead the coordination of efforts,” Starmer began “this is a force designed to deter, to send Putin the message that this is an agreement that is going to defend himself. That is the best description.”
However, there is a condition that Macron did not mention. “This is done recognizing that We also need the participation of the United States“said Starmer, who defended his transatlantic alliance.
He refused to go into details about which countries have expressed interest in contributing and how. But he said that the coalition has “200 countries planners.”
If the United Kingdom sent troops to Ukraine as part of a “reinsurance” force, “Parliament would have a voice and vote,” said Starmer. He affirmed that He doesn’t want to “get ahead” with a vote.
“We are not in that phase. We are in converting political impulse into operational plans,” he said. That implies “considering the different options” and then “move on to the next work phase with the defense leaders.”
“But my position for a long time is … if we deploy ourselves in any long -term scenario. Then, of course, the Parliament should have a voice and vote,” he added ..
Sir Keir Starmer was interrogated by a journalist about the clear tone differences adopted by him and Donald Trump in the United States with respect to Ukraine and Russia. The prime minister had immediately counterattacked.
“President Trump He wants, without a doubt, a lasting peace in Ukraine and that guides all his actions “said.
“What we must now do, in my opinion, is to increase the pressure on Russia,” he added, evading the question.
Unsatisfied with his response, another journalist asked him about the obvious difference in his vision of the world.
“I think the goal is correct: a lasting peace, which guarantees the security and sovereignty of Ukraine,” replied the former attorney of the British crown, adding again that this is what Trump wants.
US support
Starmer eluded the question about The “pathetic” comment by Vice President Vance on Europe.
A Sky News journalist asked how the continent can trust Donald Trump’s administration.
Starmer responded by describing the “general environment” at the Summit of Ukraine in Paris. “There was a broad consensus that this group of nations is now stronger and more broad than ever,” he said.
“This will require the participation and support of the United States”he added. “And that is a conversation that we have had with the US, with the president on many occasions. But I would describe the mood like that of a group of countries that join with greater determination today … than in the weeks that this has been developed as a group,” said Starmer.
European forces cannot act in Ukraine without the support of intelligence, satellites and probably the American defense system.
The prime minister supported the calls to impose more sanctions on Russia, whom he accused of “wasting time”
He added that Vladimir Putin has “returned to his own manual” and that it is necessary to increase economic pressure. “There was a firm resolution throughout the room that now it is not time to withdraw or weaken the old sanctions,” he said.