Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected Western proposals for a 'reassurance force' in Ukraine the day after any ceasefire comes into place, following a Paris summit aimed at finalizing plans for security guarantees.
French President Emmanuel Macron said 26 of Ukraine's allies had formally committed to deploying troops 'by land, sea or air' to help provide security the moment fighting was brought to a halt. He did not detail any of the countries involved.
Putin sought to quash the allies' initiative, with a warning that any troops deployed to Ukraine would be 'legitimate targets', especially if they appeared now, even though there are no plans for an immediate deployment.
There seems little hope of a ceasefire for now, after last month's summit in Alaska between Putin and US President Donald Trump briefly raised hopes of a meeting with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky and a potential peace deal.
Putin stated on Friday he was ready for contact with the Ukrainian leader 'but I do not see much point. Why? Because it is nearly impossible to reach agreement with the Ukrainian side on key issues'.
His spokesman praised Trump's 'very constructive efforts' but described the European countries' actions as provocations. The Coalition of the Willing, led by the UK and France, has been working on providing Kyiv with guarantees involving military enhancements and reassurance forces.
Macron reiterated that any troops deployed would not be intended for frontline engagements but to prevent 'any new major aggression'.
Zelensky characterized the decisions from the Paris summit as a 'first concrete step.' The exact scale of US involvement remains uncertain, with indications that support might come in the form of air assistance for Ukraine's defenses.
Putin remarked that foreign troops in Ukraine would be 'considered a danger' to Russia, adding that Moscow maintains an open invitation for negotiations but doubts remain about the sincerity of these interactions, given Ukraine's insistence on territorial integrity through referendums.
With all eyes on the Kremlin, analysts suggest Russia's refusal to acknowledge a potential ceasefire reflects a strategic goal of extending its territorial claims amidst ongoing conflict.
