“The coalition of the willing declaration for a solid and lasting peace recognizes an operational convergence between the 35 countries, Ukraine, and the U.S. to build robust security guarantees,” Macron told reporters. Washington will participate in those guarantees, including with the “backstop” that Europeans wanted, he added.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that after a ceasefire, the U.K. and France will establish military hubs across Ukraine and “build protected facilities for weapons and military equipment to support Ukraine’s defense needs.”
France, the U.K., and Ukraine signed a separate declaration on Tuesday specifying these commitments.
The European-led multinational force will encompass land, air and sea, and will be stationed in Western Ukraine, far from the contact line, Macron said. France and the U.K. have previously stated they would be willing to deploy ground troops — but most other coalition members, including Germany, have so far refrained from joining that commitment.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Berlin was open to deploying its troops in a neighboring NATO country that would act in case of Russian aggression. | Tom Nicholson/Getty Images
Other nations have suggested deploying aircraft based in neighboring NATO countries to monitor Ukrainian skies, and Turkey has agreed to lead the coalition’s maritime segment to secure the Black Sea.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Berlin was open to deploying its troops in a neighboring NATO country that would act in case of Russian aggression, telling reporters “we are not ruling anything out.” But he emphasized that the final decision would be up to Germany’s parliament.
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