Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has called on Kyiv’s Western allies to take a definitive stance on security guarantees, including the potential deployment of foreign troops on Ukrainian soil with U.S. backing.
Zelenskiy’s appeal followed a virtual meeting hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, which brought together European leaders and allies, including the Ukrainian president. During the discussion, Starmer emphasized the necessity of a “coalition of the willing” to secure Ukraine “on the land, at sea, and in the sky” should a peace agreement with Russia materialize.
“We need to continue working on the contingents that will form the foundation of Europe’s future Armed Forces,” Zelenskiy stated in a post on X, sharing an image of himself participating in the high-level discussion.
We must define a clear position on security guarantees. Security is key to making peace reliable and lasting. We need to continue working on the contingents that will form the foundation of Europe’s future Armed Forces. Peace will be more reliable with European contingents on the…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 15, 2025
“Peace will be more reliable with European contingents on the ground and the American side as a backstop,” he added, underscoring the need for a firm Western presence to ensure long-term stability in the war-torn country.
Starmer also advocated for a U.S. security backstop to reinforce a durable peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine as the war enters its third year. His remarks align with broader Western discussions on strengthening Ukraine’s defenses amid ongoing hostilities.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has signaled conditional support for a proposed 30-day ceasefire suggested by former U.S. President Donald Trump. However, Putin stressed that Russia would continue fighting until key conditions were met.
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Zelenskiy dismissed Putin’s stance, urging European leaders to reject Moscow’s opposition to the presence of European peacekeepers in Ukraine. He accused the Russian president of deliberately obstructing peace efforts.
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“A ceasefire could have already happened, but Russia is doing everything to prevent it,” Zelenskiy said, reinforcing Ukraine’s call for stronger Western involvement to counter Russian aggression.
