PARIS — More than two dozen leaders and senior officials met in the French capital Tuesday to turn Ukraine security guarantees into specific commitments and outline a potential multinational force that could help deter future attacks if a ceasefire takes hold. U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner joined the talks as organizers sought a unified Ukraine-European-American position that could be presented to Moscow, Jan. 6, 2026.
Ukraine security guarantees move from political pledges to operational planning
Diplomats said the meeting aimed to put “concrete commitments on paper,” shifting from broad promises toward deployable options and clear responsibilities. A planning note reviewed by Reuters said participants would focus on contributions to a multinational force “in the event of a ceasefire,” coordinated with Kyiv and backed by U.S. support, while also mapping “binding commitments” if Ukraine is attacked again.
The gathering was framed as a step in a fast-moving diplomatic push that has intensified since late 2025, even as fighting continues and territorial questions remain a major obstacle to any settlement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated that Kyiv is pursuing diplomacy while preparing for continued defense, saying Ukraine must be ready for “both scenarios.”
Reporting around the summit described the effort as part of a Coalition of the Willing of roughly three dozen countries, with France and the United Kingdom playing leading roles. Ahead of the meeting, Turkey signaled it would stress the “strategic priority” of Black Sea security and called for “results-oriented” steps tied to a U.S. draft plan to end the war.
What allies are weighing, and what remains unsettled
Officials described several tracks: military reassurance measures that could activate after a ceasefire, longer-term defense support, and coordinated steps to increase pressure on Russia should Moscow refuse meaningful negotiations. The talks also sought to align coalition planning with Ukraine’s negotiating position and U.S. engagement, in an attempt to avoid gaps between political promises and what militaries can deliver quickly.
Separate reports noted uncertainty about how quickly leaders can close differences on the scope of Ukraine security guarantees, especially if the discussion turns to who provides troops, how they would be protected and financed, and what triggers a response if Russia violates a future agreement.
Earlier commitments set the runway for today’s Ukraine security guarantees debate
The Paris talks build on a yearslong arc of allied efforts to formalize support. In July 2023, the Group of Seven unveiled a framework intended to guide long-term security assurances for Ukraine, including support such as training and intelligence-sharing. In January 2024, the United Kingdom and Ukraine signed a bilateral security agreement that Kyiv called a model for additional partner deals, and a May 2024 Reuters explainer documented how those agreements were designed to reinforce Ukraine’s defense while it pursues its NATO aspirations.
For now, Paris officials say the immediate goal is to make Ukraine security guarantees specific enough to deter renewed aggression and credible enough to hold political support across capitals. Whether that yields a deployable multinational force, tougher enforcement mechanisms, or a broader package of commitments, allies left little doubt that they want Ukraine security guarantees to be measurable — and hard to walk back.
