"Unshakeable," "unfailing," "credible." European and Ukrainian leaders were not short of adjectives to express the importance they attached to the "security guarantees" needed for a lasting resolution to the war triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Before leaving for Washington to meet Donald Trump on Monday, August 18, alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders, French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed that these security guarantees would be at the heart of talks with the occupant of the White House. Macron said on Sunday that he intended to ask the Americans "how far" they were prepared to contribute in the event of a peace agreement.

Ensuring Ukraine's security after the fighting stopped would first of all mean deterring Russia from resuming its war of annexation, European leaders said. With that in mind, they insisted that Ukraine must be able to arm itself as it sees fit and choose its alliances, while Vladimir Putin dreams of a deal that would force Kyiv into neutrality or limit its military capacity.

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