France has insisted that European peacekeepers deployed to Ukraine will be a “pacifist” force as the leaders of more than 30 nations in a “coalition of the willing”, including Sir Keir Starmer, gathered in Paris.
All Nato allies except the US were invited to the conference as fears grow in Europe that President Trump may concede too much to President Putin in peace negotiations.
President Macron of France, who is hosting the talks at the Élysée Palace today, sought on Wednesday night to ease concerns that European boots on the ground in Ukraine would become embroiled in the fight.
“We are not on the front lines, we don’t go to fight, but we are there to guarantee a lasting peace. It’s a pacifist approach,” Macron said before a dinner with President Zelensky. “On the front line, it will not be European troops that will be deployed. What we are working on to give our Ukrainian friends are forms of security guarantees in the form of reassurance.”
Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, accused France and Britain on Thursday of hatching plans for “military intervention in Ukraine” under the guise of a peacekeeping mission. She told reporters that the intervention could lead to a direct military clash between Russia and Nato.
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