Macron Reveals Support Strategies for Ukraine at Paris Summit
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Synopsis
During a recent summit in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron announced new initiatives to support Ukraine, emphasizing the need for continued American assistance and exploring European deployments amidst growing tensions with Russia.
Key Takeaways
- Macron announced a Franco-British plan to assist Ukraine.
- Coordination of Ukraine's international allies will be led by Macron and Starmer.
- Proposals include deploying reassurance forces from EU states.
- Ongoing US support is crucial for European military efforts.
- Sanctions on Russia are set to remain in place for now.
Paris, March 28 (NationPress) French President Emmanuel Macron introduced a variety of initiatives aimed at assisting Ukraine during a summit held in Paris, amidst increasing concerns regarding the future of US support.
At a press conference that followed the summit of the 'coalition of the willing,' Macron disclosed a collaborative Franco-British strategy to dispatch a team to Ukraine with the goal of shaping the future organization of the Ukrainian army.
The French President stated that he and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer would 'jointly lead' the coordination of Ukraine's international coalition of partners, according to reports from the Xinhua news agency.
He also proposed the deployment of 'reassurance forces' from several willing European Union member nations to strategic sites in Ukraine, contingent on the establishment of a peace agreement with Russia.
However, Macron admitted that 'There is no consensus on this point.'
He highlighted the critical role of ongoing American support for any potential European deployment but emphasized that Europe must prepare for a scenario in which the US is no longer engaged.
After the summit, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that British Defence Secretary John Healey will preside over the next meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group on April 11, where the focus will be on coordinating additional military assistance to bolster Ukraine's defense.
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated on Thursday that Moscow is 'categorically against' the possible deployment of Western peacekeepers in Ukraine.
This situation could potentially trigger a direct confrontation between Russia and NATO, Zakharova warned, indicating that London and Paris are devising plans for 'a military intervention in Ukraine' disguised as a peacekeeping mission.
Reiterating his remarks from Wednesday night, Macron stressed that it is premature to lift sanctions on Russia.
This announcement follows the US's declaration on Tuesday about beginning to relax some sanctions on Moscow, particularly those affecting agricultural trade.
The objective of the summit was to establish a foundation for long-term security guarantees and to position the Ukrainian army as the first line of defense against any future aggression in light of the escalating threat from Russia.
