JD Vance reflects an oval office conflict with Zelenskyy
Vice President JD Vance says the intense exchange of oval offices with the Ukrainian president revealed tensions in the major US ukraine.
PARIS, Sept. 4 (Reuters) – About 30 Western leaders on Thursday hope to hold consultations with Ukrainian President Voldy Mie Zelensky about Kiev’s security guarantees if a peace agreement occurs with Russia, and to persuade the United States to support their efforts.
The Willing’s Union summit in Paris brought leaders from Europe, Australia, Japan and Canada, and even neighboring countries chose to attend via video link.
Members of the coalition, which does not include the US, have been discussing for months at various levels, for months to define future military support for Ukraine, to help prevent Russia from attacking again if there is a final truce.
However, these efforts have stagnated as the government says that European military roles require its own US security assurance as a “backstop.” President Donald Trump has no clear commitment to providing them.
Trump envoy meets Europeans
His special envoy group, Steve Witkov, met a senior European official in Paris on Thursday morning before the meeting, two diplomats said.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday, along with Zelensky in Paris, the coalition leaders would support a security assurance plan created by the military.
According to a summary sent to participants, British and French army chiefs were to briefly explain the leaders on Thursday.
“We are ready to provide security assurances to Ukraine in a time when there is a signed peace,” Macron said, adding that it is a problem to see how sincere Russia is now.
Two European officials said the goal was to send political cues to Trump. This underscores the lack of progress towards direct peace negotiations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky since Trump hosted Putin in August, and encourages Trump to put pressure on Moscow now.
Trump, who unveiled the Alaska red carpet, accused Putin of conspiring with China and North Korea on Wednesday after leaders from three countries staged a show of Beijing’s unity in a gorgeous commemoration at the end of World War II.
NATO Executive Director Mark Latte said Wednesday that he was expecting clarity from the coalition soon.
Peace in Ukraine is still “fantastic and remote”
Putin told Kiev on Wednesday that he would have the opportunity to end the war in Ukraine through negotiations that “if common sense wins.”
Western officials say a key element of the assurance is continuing strong support for Ukrainian military forces.
However, they were also expected to include international forces to support and reassure Kiev, based in both Ukraine and its neighboring countries, despite the emphasis on foreign deployments in Ukraine.
Diplomats say there is a big difference between the allies on the issue.
European leaders have made it clear that such a force can be put into practice with our support alone – something Trump has generally promised last month. But Washington has not yet written about what he wants to contribute.
Some leaders will call Trump after the summit, the French presidency said.
John Foreman, a former UK defense attorney to Kyiv and Moscow, said it is important to understand exactly what is being offered.
“That being said, there is a growing awareness that peace requires strong Ukrainian and Ukrainian troops, European support needs to last long, and that Ukraine cannot rely on its aid to punish Russia if Ukraine is attacked again,” he said.
“This is all preparatory work for peace that remains fantastic and distant due to Trump’s inconsistent diplomacy and lack of substantial consultation.”
(Additional reporting by Andrew Gray and Tom Birmforce of Brussels, London, edited by Cynthia Osterman and Kevin Liffey)
