PARIS — Europe and the U.S. stand ready to commit to “legally binding” security guarantees to support Ukraine in the event of a peace settlement with Russia, according to a draft statement seen by POLITICO.
The plan, which needs to be approved by Washington and leaders who gathered in Paris on Tuesday, sets out security guarantees that would include participation in U.S.-led ceasefire monitoring, long-term support for the Ukrainian army, the deployment of a multinational force in Ukraine in case of a peace settlement, and commitments to support Ukraine should there be a future Russian attack.
If agreed, this statement would be one of the strongest signs yet of U.S. commitment to Ukraine’s security.
Leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met American envoys and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris to clinch a plan to provide Ukraine with robust security guarantees, with Washington’s support.
The U.S. and Europeans will play a “vital and closely coordinated role” in the provision of security guarantees, according to the draft statement.
“Welcoming the confirmation that the United States is ready to play a decisive role to participate in the future security of Ukraine, we stand ready to commit to a system of politically and legally binding guarantees,” the document says.
US role
According to the document, Washington would deploy a “continuous, reliable ceasefire monitoring” system in Ukraine and a special committee would be set up to address ceasefire breaches.
A multinational force that is “European-led, with U.S. participation” would be deployed in Ukraine in the event of a peace deal with Russia. The U.S. would contribute support in the form of intelligence and logistics as well as a commitment to back the force if it is attacked.
On military support — “the first line of defense” for Kyiv — signatories agree to “long term defense packages,” financing and budget support and “practical and technical support to Ukraine in building defensive fortifications,” the statement says.
The level of detail in the document illustrates significant progression in recent weeks, with European governments having long called for a U.S. backstop to guarantee lasting peace in Ukraine.
In December, Europeans sounded upbeat about the potential for a peace deal after U.S. officials offered “NATO-style” security guarantees at a meeting in Berlin. But there is no indication yet that Russia would agree to a peace deal with such conditions attached.
Europe and the US to pledge ‘legally binding’ security guarantees to Ukraine
Source: Viral Showbiz Pinay
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