Europe agrees to create an "international force" with US support to protect Ukraine after the war

ParisAfter months of negotiations, Kyiv's allies reached an agreement on Tuesday on the framework for security guarantees that should accompany a potential ceasefire in Ukraine and a future agreement with Russia. The so-called Coalition of the Volunteers, comprised of 35 countries, met in Paris on Tuesday to give a final push to the plan that will be implemented when Russia decides to lay down its arms. One of the biggest advances is that the United States' participation is taking shape, although its role is not entirely defined, nor is its commitment as firm as the other countries hope. As stated in the final declaration, Washington will support the security guarantees.

"This does not mean that the agreement will bring peace, but peace will not be possible without the progress we have made here today," emphasized Jared Kushner, one of Donald Trump's envoys to Paris, who is also his son-in-law. The US commitment is a key step forward. European countries have always maintained that Washington's support for the guarantees—which include the deployment of European troops on Ukrainian territory—was an indispensable condition for deterring Russia from attacking Ukraine again. However, so far no US leader has confirmed their country's role in the security guarantees.

The plan outlined in the document includes participation in a US-led ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism, with a continuous monitoring system and a special commission to manage potential violations. In practice, Washington will decide whether or not Russia has violated the peace agreement. For French President Emmanuel Macron, this US commitment represents a substantial change from recent weeks. "Now the Americans have said what they are prepared to do," he emphasized.

International military force

At the close of the summit, France, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine signed an agreement to deploy an international peacekeeping force on the ground once a ceasefire is in place, a prospect that remains distant. Kyiv's allies pledged to maintain broad, long-term military support for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which will continue to be the first line of defense and deterrence, as well as access to logistical resources, funding, and technical assistance to strengthen the country's defensive capabilities. The allies did not specify figures, but French President Emmanuel Macron indicated that France would contribute "several thousand" troops to the so-called Multinational Force. "These are not forces that will be sent to fight," Macron clarified. Countries like Italy have refused to send troops to Ukraine, and others, like Germany, are only willing to send soldiers to neighboring countries. Spain, however, could participate in the international force. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, He opened the door on Tuesday to sending soldiers onto the ground at a press conference in Paris."If we've done it in other regions, why shouldn't we do it in Europe?" he asserted. This is the first time Sánchez has admitted this possibility. Until now, the government's position was that the discussion was "premature."

Support for the Ukrainian army

The international military force, designed to support the rebuilding of the Ukrainian army and strengthen deterrence, would be led by European partners and activated at Kyiv's request once there is a "credible" cessation of hostilities by the Kremlin. However, Moscow has thus far consistently rejected the presence of Western troops on Ukrainian territory.

It is precisely at this point that ambiguity arises regarding the role of the United States. The document repeatedly states that the deployment will have "the support of the United States," a formulation that suggests political and operational involvement but avoids specifying the scope, nature, or binding character of that support. Furthermore, some references to the US role that appeared in the draft communiqué have ultimately been removed.

Washington appears as an indispensable actor—especially in monitoring the ceasefire and in overall coordination—but without explicit commitments comparable to those the Europeans are preparing to formalize. The Coalition also commits to defining binding guarantees in the event of a future Russian attack, which could include military capabilities, intelligence support, logistics, diplomatic initiatives, and new sanctions. In the final communiqué, the participants agree that Ukraine's ability to defend itself will remain a central element of European and Euro-Atlantic security. In this regard, the Coalition argues that any agreement with Moscow must include "robust" and legally binding security measures, which would be activated once the hypothetical ceasefire takes effect, and which would complement existing bilateral agreements.