PARIS — Ukraine’s allies said they made major progress in talks in Paris on how to defend Ukraine if a peace deal is reached with Russia, describing a post-ceasefire security architecture intended to deter Moscow from attacking again.
The discussions included plans for the United States to lead an effort to monitor any ceasefire, a step that could put Washington in a direct role in helping keep peace with Russia, according to participants. Leaders from 27 European countries and Canada, along with U.S. representatives, and top officials from the European Union and NATO, said they would supply Ukraine’s front-line forces with equipment and training.
They also said the guarantees would include air, land and sea support to deter any future Russian attack. The plan, as laid out during the meeting, was described as part of a broader effort to sustain deterrence if fighting stops, and to prepare Ukraine’s military to respond if hostilities resume.
Beyond immediate front-line support, participants said the post-ceasefire structure would include replenishing Ukraine’s war-battered weapons stocks so the country’s army could act as a front-line deterrent against a return to fighting. The event was described as the 15th and largest meeting of the so-called “coalition of the willing,” with more heads of state and governments than ever and U.S. envoys attending in person for the first time.
Officials in Russia offered no immediate comment on Tuesday, which fell on the eve of Orthodox Christmas. Details of the allies’ plan were not disclosed, including the size of any supporting forces, and many specifics remained unclear because the proposals would only apply if a ceasefire enters into force.
Keir Starmer, the U.K. prime minister, said the meeting made “excellent progress” but cautioned that “the hardest yards are still ahead,” citing ongoing Russian attacks. He said there can only be peace if Russia compromises, adding: “Putin is not showing that he is ready for peace.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said progress was made but that commitments still needed to be ratified by each country so they can be put in place after any settlement. Speaking in Paris, Zelenskyy said, “We determined what countries are ready to take leadership in the elements of security guarantees on the ground, in the air, and at sea, and in restoration,” and added, “We determined what forces are needed. We determined, how these forces will be operated and at what levels of command.”
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said the United States “strongly stands behind” security guarantees, while Jared Kushner called the Paris meeting “a very, very, big milestone.” Kushner said, “This does not mean we will make peace, but peace would not be possible without the progress that we have made today.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said the security statement endorsed by Ukraine’s allies was a “significant step” toward ending Russia’s invasion. He also said the coalition plans envisaged a Ukrainian army with 800,000 troops, while noting that further work remained to finalize commitments.
A joint statement issued after the meeting said the allies agreed to continue long-term military assistance and armament to Ukraine’s armed forces, adding that they “will remain the first line of defense and deterrence” after a peace deal is signed. The statement said the allies still must finalize “binding commitments” setting out what they will do to support Ukraine.
Diplomatic outcomes were described as uncertain, with the report noting the Trump administration’s shifting attention toward Venezuela and tensions in Europe tied to U.S. suggestions about Greenland. Zelenskyy met Macron ahead of the summit, and the report said military chiefs from France, Britain and Ukraine met as well, with NATO’s top commander, U.S. Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich, participating in talks focused on implementing security guarantees.
The meeting also unfolded as a separate political dispute over Greenland escalated. Trump renewed his call for the U.S. to take control of Greenland on Sunday, and leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the U.K. joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in defending Greenland’s sovereignty. Macron declined to answer a question about Greenland while speaking about Ukraine with U.S. envoys Kushner and Witkoff.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield, the report said Ukraine’s Security Service carried out drone strikes on a military arsenal and an oil depot deep inside Russia, according to a security official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The long-range drones hit an arsenal in Russia’s Kostroma region, triggering explosions for hours and forcing evacuation of nearby settlements, the official said, describing the site as a key logistics hub supplying ammunition in western and central Russia. In a separate strike, the report said drones hit an oil depot in Russia’s Lipetsk region, causing a huge fire.