US and Europe Unite: Binding Security Guarantees for Ukraine's Protection

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The United States has for the first time backed a broad coalition of Ukraine’s allies in vowing to provide security guarantees that leaders said would include binding commitments to support the country if it is attacked by Russia again.

The pledge came at a summit in Paris of the Coalition of the Willing of mainly European nations to firm up security guarantees to reassure Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia, which invaded its neighbour in 2014 and again at full scale in 2022.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff said after the summit on Tuesday that President Donald Trump “strongly stands behind security protocols”.

“Those security protocols are meant to … deter any attacks, any further attacks in Ukraine, and … if there are any attacks, they’re meant to defend, and they will do both. They are as strong as anyone has ever seen.”

In a recent development, coalition leaders have expressed their intention to join a proposed US-led initiative aimed at monitoring and verifying a ceasefire. This marks a significant move towards addressing ongoing tensions and ensuring peace efforts are effectively overseen.

Talks to bring the almost four-year conflict to an end have accelerated since November.

Despite this progress, Russia remains reticent to make any concessions, particularly after Ukraine advocated for modifications to a US proposal that originally appeared to favor Russia’s primary demands. This resistance from Russia continues to be a point of contention in the peace negotiation process.

The coalition leaders released a statement outlining the potential commitments they are willing to undertake. These include deploying military capabilities, providing intelligence and logistical support, engaging in diplomatic efforts, and implementing additional sanctions if necessary. The statement emphasized the leaders’ dedication to “finalising binding commitments” to ensure these measures are effectively put into action.

The text approved by the coalition on Tuesday underscores how discussions on security guarantees have advanced in recent weeks, even though Russia has given no public sign that it would accept such arrangements.

Until recently, much of the focus was on pledges of military aid for Ukraine’s forces and possible contributions to an international reassurance force.

But attention has now shifted to legally binding guarantees to come to Ukraine’s aid in the event of another attack by Russia. The possibility of a military response is likely to trigger debate in many European countries, diplomats say.

“These commitments may include the use of military capabilities, intelligence and logistical support, diplomatic initiatives, adoption of additional sanctions,” the leaders’ statement said, adding that they would now “finalise binding commitments”.

“We all want … peace (in Ukraine) to be fair, lasting and clear-eyed… we want this peace to have its guarantees,” French President Emmanuel Macron told a news conference after the summit.

European leaders present at the meeting, including Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stressed that the statement showed renewed unity between Europe and the US on helping Ukraine.

The leaders’ statement also pledged a European-led “Multinational Force for Ukraine … to support the rebuilding of Ukraine’s armed forces and support deterrence” with “the proposed support of the US”.

Ukraine has long said it cannot be safe without guarantees that are comparable to the NATO alliance’s mutual defence agreement, to deter Russia from attacking again. Russia wants any peace deal to bar Ukraine from military alliances.