PARIS (AP) 鈥� Ukraine鈥檚 allies said they made major progress Tuesday toward agreeing on how to defend the country if a peace deal is struck with Russia, saying they were ready to provide international guarantees to deter Moscow from attacking its neighbor again.
Plans discussed at a key meeting in Paris included having the U.S. lead an effort to monitor any ceasefire 鈥� which could give Washington a direct role in keeping any peace with Russia.
Leaders from 27 European countries and Canada, as well as U.S. representatives and top officials from the European Union and NATO, said they would provide Kyiv鈥檚 front-line forces with equipment and training and back them up with air, land and sea support to deter any future Russian attack.
This was the 15th and largest meeting of the so-called 鈥� involving more heads of state and governments than ever and U.S. envoys in person for the first time.
The post-ceasefire architecture would also include beefing up Ukraine鈥檚 war-battered army, including by replenishing its weapons stocks, so it could act as the country鈥檚 front-line deterrence against a resumption of fighting.
There was no immediate comment from officials in Russia on Tuesday, which was the eve of Orthodox Christmas.
Details of the plan were not disclosed
The size of the supporting forces was not made public, and many of the details of the plan 鈥� which would only apply if a ceasefire enters into force 鈥� remain unclear.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the meeting made 鈥渆xcellent progress鈥� but cautioned that 鈥渢he hardest yards are still ahead,鈥� noting that Russian attacks on Ukraine continue.
Moscow has revealed few details of its stance in the . Officials have reaffirmed and have insisted there can be no ceasefire until a comprehensive settlement is agreed. Russian President Vladimir Putin has ruled out any deployment of troops from NATO countries on Ukrainian soil.
Starmer added that there can only be peace if Russia compromises, and added: 鈥淧utin is not showing that he is ready for peace.鈥�
Zelenskyy agreed progress was made
In the event of a ceasefire, Starmer said the U.K. and France 鈥渨ill establish military hubs across Ukraine and build protected facilities for weapons and military equipment to support Ukraine鈥檚 defensive needs.鈥�
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed progress was made in the talks, although commitments need to be ratified by each country so that they can be put in place after any settlement.
鈥淲e determined what countries are ready to take leadership in the elements of security guarantees on the ground, in the air, and at sea, and in restoration,鈥� Zelenskyy told a news conference in Paris. 鈥淲e determined what forces are needed. We determined, how these forces will be operated and at what levels of command.鈥�
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said the U.S. 鈥渟trongly stands behind鈥� security guarantees. Trump鈥檚 son-in-law Jared Kushner, who also participated in the meeting, called the Paris meeting 鈥渁 very, very, big milestone.鈥�
鈥淭his does not mean we will make peace, but peace would not be possible without the progress that we have made today,鈥� Kushner said.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the security statement endorsed by Ukraine鈥檚 allies is a 鈥渟ignificant step鈥� toward ending Russia鈥檚 invasion. The coalition plans also envisage a Ukrainian army with 800,000 troops, he said.
Commitments still need to be finalized
A joint statement issued following the meeting said the allies also agreed to continue long-term military assistance and armament to Ukraine鈥檚 armed forces, which 鈥渨ill remain the first line of defense and deterrence鈥� after any peace deal is signed.
The allies still must finalize 鈥渂inding commitments鈥� setting out what they will do to support Ukraine, the statement said.
The outcome of the meeting had been uncertain as the Trump administration’s focus is shifting to , while U.S. suggestions of a Greenland takeover with Europe, and Moscow
A series of meetings on the summit’s sidelines illustrated the intensity of the diplomatic effort and the complexity of its moving parts.
Zelenskyy met with Macron ahead of the summit. French, British and Ukrainian military chiefs also met, with NATO鈥檚 top commander, U.S. Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich, participating in talks that France鈥檚 army chief said focused on implementing security guarantees. Army chiefs from other coalition nations joined by video.
Macron鈥檚 office said the U.S. delegation was initially set to be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, but he changed his plans after the U.S. .
Tension rises over Greenland comments
Trump on Sunday renewed his call for the U.S. to take control of Greenland, a strategic, mineral-rich Arctic island.
The leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the U.K. on Tuesday joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in in the wake of Trump鈥檚 comments about the self-governing territory of the kingdom of Denmark.
Macron on Tuesday declined answering a question on Greenland as he was speaking about Ukraine alongside U.S. envoys Kushner and Witkoff.
In fighting Tuesday, Ukraine鈥檚 Security Service carried out drone strikes on a military arsenal and an oil depot deep inside Russia, according to a security official who was not authorized to comment publicly and thus spoke on condition of anonymity.
The long-range drones hit the arsenal in Russia鈥檚 Kostroma region, triggering explosions that lasted for hours and forced the evacuation of nearby settlements, the official said. The site was described as a key logistics hub supplying ammunition in western and central Russia.
In a separate strike, Ukraine Security Service drones hit an oil depot in Russia鈥檚 Lipetsk region, causing a huge fire, the official said.
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John Leicester in Paris; Volodymyr Yurchuk in Kyiv, Ukraine; Will Weissert in Washington; Jill Lawless in London and Barry Hatton in Lisbon, Portugal, contributed.
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