Restoring Ukraine's bargaining power in the talks aimed at ending the war, three years after the Russian invasion: This is the objective of the summit gathering some 30 European delegations at the Elysée on Thursday, March 27, according to Emmanuel Macron. Hosted by Paris and London, the meeting of this "coalition of the willing" comes at a time when the peace talks led by the Trump administration with Russia are stalling, despite the many concessions that it seems ready to make to Vladimir Putin, behind the backs of Kyiv and the European capitals.
Alongside Volodymyr Zelensky, who was welcomed at the Elysée Palace on Wednesday evening, Macron deemed that it was "far too early" to consider lifting the sanctions imposed on Moscow, despite the demands made by the Kremlin in exchange for a cessation of hostilities in the Black Sea. This would depend on "Russia's choice to comply with international law," said Macron, calling for an unconditional "ceasefire." "Russia is playing for time, and we must continue to keep up the pressure" on Moscow, added the Ukrainian president.
Above all, Macron tried to put his money where his mouth was, before discussing, with his counterparts, the "security guarantees" that could secure the fate of Ukraine and the continent. In the short term, the idea is first and foremost to amplify, as much as possible, the military support that Europeans are providing to Kyiv.
According to the Elysée, "the first guarantee of security" is to strengthen the Ukrainian army, so that it can continue to resist the advance of Russian forces on the ground. And, as part of a "lasting" peace agreement, to deter any new Russian offensive.
With this in mind, President Macron announced a new French military aid package, worth €2 billion. This support, which is due to be transferred in installments over the coming weeks or months, includes Milan anti-tank missiles, air defense equipment such as MICA missiles fitted to the few French Mirage fighter jets supplied to Ukraine, Mistral ground-to-air defense missiles, VAB armored vehicles, AMX-10 RC tanks, numerous munitions, some of which are remotely operated, and drones, detailed Macron.
This aid includes "equipment production in Ukraine," "thanks to partnerships with our defense companies," he said, as well as support in the field of intelligence, which is currently heavily dependent on American capabilities. Zelensky added that the two leaders had also "discussed an increase in the number of Mirages" delivered by France.
Europeans are making every effort to strengthen their military support as American aid could well run out, although it resumed after a few days' suspension following the stormy conversation between Donald Trump and Zelensky in Washington on February 28. The Russians, for their part, are urging the West to halt arms deliveries to Ukraine and are demanding the "demilitarization" of the country. The Ukrainian army is "today, de facto, the largest in Europe," said Macron, even calling it "the vanguard of our European security."
Macron and Zelensky also clarified their views on the possible deployment of European soldiers in Ukraine to guarantee compliance with a still hypothetical ceasefire. In the French president's view, this "reassurance force" should "guarantee lasting peace." These troops would "not go to the front" to fight, he insisted. They would, for example, be sent to "important cities" or "strategic" sites to prevent new Russian attacks.
In the French leader's view, these troops should be distinguished from a ceasefire monitoring mechanism, if possible under "a mandate from the United Nations, which would then deploy peacekeeping troops." For Zelensky, "the most important question is who is ready to commit themselves" in order to make "any attempt by Russia to resume a new wave of aggression impossible."
The "coalition of the willing" is due to discuss this issue on Thursday, despite the many difficulties involved in implementing it. Despite urgent demands from Europeans, led by the British, the US refuses to provide the slightest security backstop to these troops in the event of a direct confrontation with the Russians. Moscow, for its part, rejects such an intervention and considers that it would constitute an act of war.
The European side lacks the resources to send even 30,000 troops to Ukraine. These forces would be subject to "our own rules of engagement," Macron said, and would thus be able to defend themselves in the event of clashes with Russian forces. According to the French president, before becoming a reality, this project must also put "cards in the Ukrainians' hands" in the context of direct negotiations with Moscow and Washington.
Translation of an original article published in French on lemonde.fr; the publisher may only be liable for the French version.