FT: Macron calls European leaders to Paris for Ukraine talks
Photo: Macron invites world leaders to Paris for talks on Ukraine (Getty Images)
Leaders of several European countries will meet in Paris on Thursday, September 4, to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine, according to The Financial Times.
According to The Financial Times, those who recently met with US President Donald Trump in Washington are expected to gather in Paris on Thursday at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron. Sources told FT that the leaders will continue their high-level negotiations.
Participants include German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Deployment of troops to Ukraine
On August 18, leaders of Ukraine, the US, France, Finland, Germany, the UK, Italy, the European Commission, and NATO held talks at the White House focused on security guarantees for Ukraine.
Allies discussed the possibility of guarantees similar to NATO’s Article 5 but outside the Alliance framework. Trump confirmed US participation but stressed that the main burden should fall on European partners, ruling out the deployment of American troops to Ukraine.
Afterward, the self-described “coalition of the willing” announced readiness to deploy deterrence forces in Ukraine. Around 10 countries agreed to send troops, and coalition military planners will also be dispatched to the US for consultations.
Germany stated it does not exclude sending its own contingent to Ukraine, while the UK explicitly signaled readiness to deploy troops in the first week following the entry into force of a potential peace agreement or ceasefire with Russia.
Estonia said it is prepared to contribute a peacekeeping company.
By contrast, Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz declared that Poland will not send troops to Ukraine, citing as priorities the defense of NATO’s eastern flank, security of the Polish-Belarusian border, and logistical support for a potential peacekeeping mission.
Greek government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis also noted that Greece would assist, but not in the form of troops.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs stated that it is premature to discuss sending troops to Ukraine, stressing that a peace agreement must first be reached, with clarity on its main elements, security guarantees, and the role of European states.
