French President Emmanuel Macron has reaffirmed the need for strong security guarantees for Ukraine, warning that a ceasefire without them risks collapsing like the failed Minsk agreements.
His Feb. 17 statement came after urgent talks with European leaders, followed by separate calls with U.S. President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Paris summit, convened by Macron on short notice, reflected growing European concerns that Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin may be negotiating over European security without the direct involvement of European leaders.
"We seek a strong and lasting peace in Ukraine," Macron said. "To achieve this, Russia must end its aggression, and this must be accompanied by strong and credible security guarantees for the Ukrainians." He stressed that without such measures, any ceasefire could be short-lived and ineffective.
Asami Terajima
Macron emphasized Europe’s responsibility to strengthen its own security: "Europeans must invest better, more, and together in their security and defense—both for today and for the future," he said in his statement on X.
Macron also underscored the importance of close coordination with the U.S. and Ukraine in shaping a sustainable security framework. "We will work on this together with all Europeans, Americans, and Ukrainians. This is the key," he said.
French president's comments reflect growing European concerns about Trump’s approach to negotiations with Russia and the potential for a U.S.-brokered deal that does not fully account for Ukrainian and European security needs.
Chris York
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