PARIS, Sept 5: French President Emmanuel Macron expressed confidence that Washington will soon commit to supporting Ukraine’s post-war security, a pledge seen as central to Europe’s broader push to contain Russia, Al Jazeera reported. His comments came after a Paris summit where 26 countries promised to send troops to Ukraine once fighting subsides.
The Paris gathering, dubbed a meeting of the “coalition of the willing,” drew European leaders, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and US envoy Steve Witkoff. Macron also spoke with US President Donald Trump by video call, which Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Paris described as “positive,” though Washington has yet to clarify its precise role. Macron said details of America’s involvement should be finalized “in the coming days.”
Al Jazeera noted that US support is viewed as indispensable for any mission, with analysts stressing Europe cannot manage such an operation alone. Intelligence, airpower, and logistics would all hinge on US contributions, even if American troops never set foot in Ukraine.
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The 26-nation pledge includes European states, Canada, Australia, and Japan. Macron explained that troops would avoid frontline combat but act as a “reassurance force” to prevent fresh Russian offensives. Zelenskyy welcomed the move, calling it the “first serious concrete step” toward credible security guarantees.
Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged tougher pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, while Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz struck a cautious tone, saying Berlin would only decide its level of involvement once conditions became clearer. Italy confirmed it would not send troops but could help monitor a future peace arrangement.
Al Jazeera highlighted that Putin has shown little interest in negotiations, especially after his visit to Beijing this week. Zelenskyy accused the Russian leader of having “no intention of coming to the table,” while Putin reiterated Moscow could “resolve all our tasks militarily” if terms acceptable to the Kremlin were not met. NATO’s Secretary-General Mark Rutte countered, warning against giving Putin too much sway over Europe’s choices.
Al Jazeera also reported tensions between Trump and European leaders over ongoing Russian oil imports. Zelenskyy said Trump was “very dissatisfied” that Hungary and Slovakia continued to buy Russian crude, despite EU sanctions passed in 2022. The White House confirmed that Trump pressed European governments to halt purchases that still bring Moscow billions of euros. He also urged them to curb Chinese financing of Russia’s war effort.
While the European Commission has proposed phasing out Russian energy imports by 2028, exemptions for landlocked states have prolonged dependence. Ukraine has repeatedly targeted the Druzhba pipeline, which carries oil to Hungary and Slovakia, sparking further disputes within the EU, according to Al Jazeera.
For now, Macron insists the Paris Summit shows Europe can act, but as Al Jazeera pointed out, the credibility of any security force in Ukraine ultimately rests on Washington’s willingness to back it.
