Washington and its partners are considering additional sanctions if the parties do not observe a ceasefire, with political and technical negotiations between Europe and the U.S. intensifying since last week, Reuters' source said.
The Kyiv Independent’s contributor Ignatius Ivlev-Yorke spent a day with a mobile team from the State Emergency Service in Nikopol in the south of Ukraine as they responded to relentless drone, artillery, and mortar strikes from Russian forces just across the Dnipro River. Nikopol is located across from the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the city of Enerhodar.
Peter Szijjarto's announcement came after Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) allegedly dismantled a Hungarian military intelligence network operating in Zakarpattia Oblast.
Moscow and Washington discuss the potential resumption of Russian gas supplies to Europe, among other issues related to the peaceful settlement of Russia's war in Ukraine, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed to the Russian state-run Interfax news agency.
"This is a historic decision, as weapons for Ukraine will be purchased at the expense of the proceeds from frozen Russian assets through the European Peace Fund," Denys Shmyhal said.
The approval marks a key step in international efforts to hold Moscow accountable for what is considered the gravest violation of international law committed against Ukraine.
Leaders from 31 countries gathered for a picture during a meeting in Paris, France, on March 27, 2025, as part of the Coalition Of The Willing summit in support of Ukraine. (Ahmet Okur / Anadolu via Getty Images)
Editor's note: This story has been updated to provide the latest developments.
Leaders from 31 countries gathered in Paris on March 27 to coordinate military aid for Ukraine and discuss steps toward a just and lasting peace, the Ukrainian presidential office reported.
The summit, co-led by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, follows Starmer's March 2 proposal to form a "coalition of the willing" to support Ukraine.
Macron spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of the meeting, the French presidency said. The summit's discussions will reportedly center on sustaining military aid, strengthening Ukraine's defense industry, and negotiating potential ceasefire mechanisms.
The leaders will also discuss the possibility of deploying a peacekeeping force to Ukraine with U.S. support as part of a future peace agreement. Starmer previously stressed that the coalition would need "strong U.S. backing" to succeed.
The coalition aims to form a "reassurance force" as a key security guarantee for Ukraine. Members who are reluctant to send their own troops to Ukraine can instead deploy soldiers to neighboring countries or provide ships, aircraft, intelligence, tanks, or other support.
European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen speaks with Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Cyprus' President Nikos Christodoulides before posing for a picture as part of a summit for a "coalition of the willing" at the Elysee Palace in Paris on March 27, 2025. (Ludovic Marin / Getty Images)
France's President Emmanuel Macron shakes hands with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky as he arrives for a summit for a "coalition of the willing" at the Elysee Palace in Paris on March 27, 2025. (Ludovic Marin / Getty Images)
France's President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as she arrives for a summit for a "coalition of the willing" at the Elysee Palace in Paris on March 27, 2025. (Ludovic Marin / Getty Images)
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky leave following the 'Coalition Of The Willing' summit in support of Ukraine at Elysee Palace on March 27, 2025 in Paris, France. (Tom Nicholson / Getty Images)
An outline document for the summit seen by Reuters mentions a possible future reassurance force with U.S. support, but there are few signs that Washington is prepared to commit.
Trump claimed on Feb. 24 that Russian President VladimirPutin would allow European peacekeepers in Ukraine as part of a settlement. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov publicly rejected the idea.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused France and Britain of planning "military intervention in Ukraine" under the guise of a peacekeeping mission, as reported by state-owned publication TASS.
Zelensky said he hoped the summit would clarify which countries might commit to such a force but acknowledged that discussions were still in their early stages.
Tim Zadorozhnyy is a news editor at The Kyiv Independent. Based in Warsaw, he is pursuing studies in International Relations, focusing on European Studies. Tim began his career at a local television channel in Odesa. After moving to Warsaw, he joined the Belarusian opposition media outlet NEXTA, starting as a news anchor and later advancing to the position of managing editor.
Alex Cadier
