Next two weeks critical for Ukraine security guarantees, says Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron (photo: Getty Images)
The next two weeks will be critically important for defining Ukraine's security guarantees. European and other partners are ready for operations not on the front line, said French President Emmanuel Macron, as cited by Politico.
"There is all the work that needs to be done beforehand on security guarantees. The next 15 days are absolutely critical for us to finalize the work with the Americans and give these security guarantees substance," he said in an interview with French media.
Macron noted the change in the position of US President Donald Trump, who "acknowledged the need to guarantee Ukraine's security."
As Macron pointed out, "the British, French, Germans, Turks and others are ready to carry out operations, not at the frontline, not provocatively, but reassurance operations in the air, at sea and on land."
The President of France warned against quick victories and trusting the words of the Kremlin. He also stressed that Russia is a "destabilizing force" and a "predator, an ogre at our door."
"We want to make sure that this peace, and so this deal will be something which will allow the Ukrainians to recover their country and live in peace, to be sure the day after this peace deal that they will have sufficient deterrence power not to be attacked again, and to be sure for the Europeans that they will live in peace and security," Macron said.
Security guarantees
As is known, one of the main topics of negotiations at the White House on August 18 was security guarantees for Ukraine. The discussions involved the presidents of Ukraine, the United States, France, and Finland; the prime ministers of the United Kingdom and Italy; the German chancellor; as well as the head of the European Commission and the NATO secretary general.
Allies want to provide Ukraine with security guarantees analogous to NATO's Article 5, although outside the Alliance itself.
As Trump stated, the United States will join in providing security guarantees for Ukraine, but the main role will be played by European countries. At the same time, he ruled out the participation of US troops. Instead, the day before, the Coalition of the Willing announced its readiness to send deterrence forces to Ukraine.
According to Zelenskyy, the details of the guarantees are planned to be agreed within 10 days.
