A crucial moment awaits the coalition of nations supporting Ukraine, with Canada among them, as they gather in Paris this week to chart a credible path towards a potential ceasefire and reconstruction. Prime Minister Mark Carney will participate in the meeting of over 30 leaders, focusing on the crucial issue of security guarantees post-conflict to dissuade Russia from halting its aggression temporarily only to resume it in the future.
French President Emmanuel Macron has invited the leaders to meet on Tuesday, following a preparatory meeting of defense chiefs from coalition countries on Monday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently engaged with 18 national security and defense advisors from coalition nations in Kyiv.
Discussions, including Canada’s former NATO ambassador David Angell, delved into collective security guarantees and their role in the broader peace efforts led by the U.S. and President Donald Trump. Zelenskyy expressed optimism that finalized security assurances would emerge from the Paris meeting, which will also involve talks with President Trump’s team.
Highlighting the urgency of robust security guarantees in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression, Zelenskyy emphasized the necessity for credible commitments. Ukrainian efforts have successfully garnered military support from European allies, shifting their stance from initial reluctance to acknowledging Russia as an imminent threat.
The prospect of concrete security assurances from Europe and Canada could potentially negate Ukraine’s bid to join NATO. While Trump has proposed strong security commitments within a 15-year framework, Zelenskyy pushes for a longer horizon. However, skepticism surrounds shifting U.S. positions on Ukraine, given the Trump administration’s fluctuating stance.
Amid efforts to prepare Ukraine for potential peace talks, uncertainties loom over Russia’s willingness to compromise. While the Kremlin signals openness to a U.S.-led peace plan as a basis for future negotiations, it maintains demands that could entail significant concessions from Ukraine, including territorial losses and military downsizing. Russia opposes any Western security pledges involving foreign military presence in Ukraine.