America supports a European force to protect Ukraine after the ceasefire
In a significant development reflecting a strategic shift in the Ukrainian crisis, a draft declaration from the Paris summit reveals that the United States is preparing to provide crucial support to a "multinational European force." This move aims to provide strong security guarantees for Ukraine, to be activated in the event of a new Russian attack following a potential ceasefire agreement.
Details of security guarantees at the Élysée summit
According to information obtained by AFP, the so-called "coalition of the willing," comprising some 30 European allies of Kyiv, met at the Élysée Palace with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and high-level US envoys. The participants discussed drafting a declaration affirming their readiness to provide Kyiv with "politically and legally binding guarantees." The draft stipulates that these guarantees will take effect immediately upon the ceasefire with Russia, with the United States and its coalition partners playing a vital and coordinating role to ensure the agreement's sustainability.
Historical context: The search for alternatives to NATO
These moves come in a complex geopolitical context, as Ukraine has sought international protection since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. Given the difficulties of Kyiv's immediate accession to NATO while the fighting continues, the need for alternative security arrangements has become apparent. These arrangements recall discussions about the "Israeli model"—bilateral security agreements that would provide Ukraine with weapons, intelligence, and political support to deter future aggression, without direct allied involvement in the war. However, the current proposal goes further by calling for a "multinational force.".
Strategic importance and the American role
This announcement carries significant strategic implications both regionally and internationally. On the one hand, it underscores the United States' commitment to overseeing the ceasefire "with the participation" of coalition members, thus lending the agreement international weight and thwarting any Russian attempts to exploit the truce to regroup. On the other hand, this approach reflects a growing European desire, led by France, to assume greater responsibility for continental security, while maintaining the American backing necessary for the success of any deterrent initiative against Moscow.
This declaration, if approved in its final form, is expected to be a turning point in potential peace negotiations, as it gives the Ukrainian leadership the necessary assurances to accept a ceasefire, while ensuring that previous scenarios of the collapse of security agreements are not repeated.
