A coalition of more than two dozen countries has pledged to send troops to Ukraine after any eventual peace deal with Russia, in what leaders described on Thursday as a “reassurance force” to deter future aggression from Moscow.
The announcement came after a Paris summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with other leaders—including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer—joining remotely.
Macron declared that 26 nations have formally committed to deploying troops in Ukraine or providing support by land, air, or sea once a ceasefire or peace agreement is reached. He emphasized the force would not fight on the front line but instead serve to prevent “any new major aggression.”
“This is the first serious, concrete step in a long time,” Zelensky said, hailing the commitment as a breakthrough in Ukraine’s fight for security guarantees more than three years into Russia’s full-scale invasion.
The initiative reflects Macron’s push for Europe to act more independently of Washington, especially after U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House and launched direct talks with Vladimir Putin.
Although the United States participated through envoy Steve Witkoff, the scope of its involvement remains unclear. Trump spoke with Zelensky via video call to discuss sanctions on Russia and Ukraine’s air defense needs, but critics warn his administration has softened its stance toward Moscow.
Germany and Italy have also signaled hesitation. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Berlin would decide “at the appropriate time,” while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni ruled out sending troops but offered to help monitor any peace deal.
The move comes amid heightened tensions following Putin’s visits to China and the United States, where he showcased military cooperation with Beijing and held talks with Trump in Alaska.
Meanwhile, Russia dismissed the initiative outright. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow would reject foreign troop deployments in Ukraine “in any format.”
Adding to the urgency, a Russian rocket strike in northern Ukraine killed two Danish Refugee Council workers clearing mines on Thursday, underscoring the ongoing cost of the war.
Macron warned that if Moscow continues to stall peace talks, Europe and the United States would escalate sanctions. “Russia is doing nothing other than trying to play for time while intensifying attacks on civilians,” he said.
The reassurance force, paired with the regeneration of Ukraine’s military, represents what Macron described as Europe’s most concrete effort yet to guarantee Kyiv’s long-term security.
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