Defense ministers from five major European NATO member states met in Paris on Wednesday to discuss military security guarantees for Ukraine, including the possible deployment of peacekeeping forces there in the event of a peace agreement with Russia, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
After the talks, the defense ministers of France, Britain, Germany, Italy and Poland did not provide details on the type and size of these forces, the agency said.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov was also invited to attend a preparatory meeting to discuss aid for his country, followed by a second meeting focusing on strengthening European defense capabilities, Reuters reported.
„The United "The UK and France are jointly leading the work on planning peace efforts and arrangements for security guarantees for Ukraine," British Defence Secretary John Healy told a press conference after the meeting, DPA reported.
"We are seeking to build a coalition of the willing from Europe and beyond," he said, adding that the group would need to increase its strength on all fronts.
French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu stressed that "the first guarantee of Ukraine's security is the Ukrainian armed forces."
He said the allies were seeking to strengthen the Ukrainian army for a longer period of time, as they have done since the beginning of the war.
"We cannot ask European troops to do the work of the Ukrainian armed forces," he said. Le Cornue.
However, he hinted that Europe could consider sending troops to the Polish-Ukrainian border.
“European countries are strengthening their cooperation“, British Defense Minister John Healy said earlier, quoted by Reuters.
“By deepening our cooperation, increasing spending and strengthening our collective power, we are sending a clear message: we will not back down in our support for Ukraine and in defending our common values“, he added.
France and Britain, which are Europe's two nuclear powers, have worked closely in the past few weeks to mobilize European support for Ukraine amid U.S. unpredictability, Reuters notes.
The ministers also discussed increasing efforts in the field of armaments and better coordination between their armies, DPA added.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said European countries must work for European security and overcome national interests, adding that they must acquire standard military equipment on a larger scale and faster than before.
The meeting in Paris followed a joint statement by the United States and Ukraine on Tuesday for the immediate resumption of American military and intelligence assistance and Ukraine's agreement to a 30-day ceasefire - if Russia agrees - after a summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, DPA noted.
On Tuesday evening, the army chiefs of 36 countries met in Paris to discuss the issue of peacekeeping troops for Ukraine.
Defense Chief Admiral Emil Eftimov also participated in the meeting at the level of defense chiefs within the framework of the second edition of “Paris Forum on Defense and Strategy“, convened in the period 10-12 March under the patronage of the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron, announced the Ministry of Defense.
Finland will definitely be part of the “coalition of the willing“, which can help with the security of Ukraine, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen told the British radio “Times” on Wednesday, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Earlier this month, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that Britain, France and some other countries could form a coalition to prepare a plan to support Ukraine in the event of of a peace agreement with Russia to end the war.
“We will definitely be part of the coalition of the willing and we are reviewing the package of capabilities that we need to put on the table to help with the security of Ukraine“, said Elina Valtonen. She added that Finland will, of course, also participate in ensuring the security of the rest of Europe. In her words, “there are many ways to participate“.
The Nordic countries are among the most loyal supporters of Ukraine, including Finland, which is the European country with the longest common border with Russia, Reuters reminds.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said yesterday that Finland is actively involved in talks to form a "coalition of the willing" but ruled out participating in a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine. The prime minister said Finland must ensure its own defense, as a neighbor of Russia.
"We will not send troops to Ukraine," Prime Minister Petteri Orpo told parliament.