Kiev, Ukraine
US special envoy Steve Witkov held discussions with European leaders in Paris on Thursday regarding security guarantees for Ukraine.
Witkov, appointed by former President Donald Trump to facilitate peace negotiations, is also expected to meet with Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky at the Paris talks. This information comes from a Ukrainian presidential official who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions.
The envoy was invited to the “rejoiced coalition” gathering to focus on aid for Ukraine, including military support plans should a ceasefire occur to prevent further Russian attacks in the ongoing Russian-Ukraine conflict.
French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer, who leads this coalition, have emphasized that Ukraine’s security requires backing from the United States.
Macron mentioned that a preliminary committee on security assurances should convene before Thursday’s meeting and receive political approval, although specific details were not provided.
“We Europeans are prepared to offer security assurances to Ukrainians on the day peace is achieved,” Macron stated.
The precise contributions from union members, including military capabilities, remain unclear.
Andri Yermak, the chief of staff for the Ukrainian president, remarked after meeting with Witkov and other national security advisors that security must be robust across air, sea, land, and cyberspace.
Earlier this month, in a notable policy shift, the US indicated its readiness to support security assurances for Ukraine, akin to NATO’s collective defense approach, according to Zelensky. However, the specific nature of this support is still uncertain, with Ukraine seeking ongoing US intelligence sharing and air assistance.
In the meantime, Russia conducted 112 strikes and launched drones across Ukraine overnight on Thursday, with air defenses managing to intercept or block 84 of those drones, as stated in official reports.
Some leaders were present at the Paris talks, while others attended remotely. They planned to communicate with Trump by phone following the meeting.
