Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky States Absence of Clear Security Pledge from Allies

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine's partners in Europe have not given him sound guarantees that they will protect his country in the case of a new Russian aggression.

"I am asking this very question to all our partners and I have not received a definitive and straightforward response yet," he stated to the press on Wednesday.

His comments come a day after Britain and France signed a declaration of intent on deploying troops in Ukraine should a ceasefire agreement to conclude the conflict with Moscow is finalized.

However, full security guarantees have not been agreed. The United States, which has been spearheading initiatives to halt the offensive, reportedly did not sign such a pledge at talks in Paris on Tuesday.

Details of the Paris Talks

Following the negotiations in Paris, which included some 30 countries that form the so-called Coalition of the Willing, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK and France would "establish military hubs across Ukraine" to prevent any future incursion, while France's President Macron subsequently indicated thousands of troops may be deployed.

Partner nations suggested that the US would take the lead in monitoring a truce. But the key issue of territorial concessions that Ukraine is being asked to grant to Russia as a component of the settlement terms are still being discussed.

Moscow has thus far remained silent on the announcement made in the French capital.

President Putin launched a comprehensive military assault of Ukraine in the early months of 2022, and Moscow now occupies about one-fifth of Ukraine's land.

Zelensky's Shifting Tone

The UK Prime Minister characterized the bilateral declaration as "an essential component of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the foreseeable future".

He added: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which allied military personnel could operate on Ukraine's territory, protecting Ukrainian airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's armed forces for the years to come."

Zelensky hailed that accord as a "significant leap of progress".

Twenty-four hours afterward, however, he appeared less optimistic.

"I perceive the determination, the political resolve, and that the allies are prepared, and the partners are ready to give us strong sanctions, strong security guarantees," he said when questioned if European countries would come to Ukraine's aid.

"However, until we lack such security guarantees - formally ratified, supported by parliaments, supported by the United States Congress - this question cannot be answered. And should they materialize, you still have to rely first and foremost on your own strength."

Unresolved Issues and Ongoing Conflict

The Paris talks were also significant due to the attendance of envoys from former President Trump's administration, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.

Witkoff said the participating countries "mostly completed" their work on finalizing security arrangements.

Recently, the President indicated a settlement was "ninety percent complete".

Territorial concessions and security guarantees have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for diplomats.

Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's military must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, rejecting any compromise over how to end the war.

The Ukrainian President has thus far rejected relinquishing any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an agreed point - but only if Russia reciprocated the action.

Russian forces now holds about three-quarters of the Donetsk oblast, and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The two regions constitute the Donbas industrial heartland.

Attacks have been escalating against cities in Ukraine - with a focus on power facilities. Russia has also made slow progress in seizing additional Ukrainian land.

Ukrainian forces have retaliated at objectives inside Russia with unmanned aerial vehicles, albeit with varying degrees of effectiveness.