The United States for the first time backed a broad coalition of Ukraine's allies in vowing to provide security guarantees, including binding commitments to support Ukraine if Russia attacks again, following a Paris summit on Tuesday. The pledge came at a meeting of the 'coalition of the willing' of mainly European nations to firm up guarantees to reassure Kyiv in the event of a ceasefire with Russia.
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner attended the summit. Witkoff said President Donald Trump 'strongly stands behind security protocols' designed to deter and defend against any further attacks. He added that territorial issues were the most problematic area going forward. Kushner said Ukrainians need to know they 'have a robust deterrence' after a deal.
Britain and France have declared they are ready to deploy troops to Ukraine in the aftermath of a peace deal. French President Emmanuel Macron said 'several thousand' French soldiers could be deployed to maintain peace after a ceasefire. A coalition statement also said allies will participate in a proposed US-led ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism, likely involving drones, sensors and satellites, not US troops.
Moscow has given no public sign that it would accept a peace deal with such security guarantees, having previously rejected any Nato members having troops inside Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the agreements were 'a signal of how seriously Europe and the entire coalition of the willing are ready to work for real security', but noted that details on monitoring and financing remain to be determined. He thanked the US for its readiness to act as a backstop.
President Vladimir Putin attended a Russian Orthodox Christmas service early Wednesday, hailing his troops' 'holy mission' to defend Russia. Meanwhile, several oil storage tanks were on fire at an oil depot in Russia's Belgorod region after a Ukrainian drone attack, with no casualties reported.
