Around the table were leaders from 29 countries\u00a0<\/b>(excluding the United States but including Turkey), plus EU institutions heads<\/b> and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte<\/b>. EU sources report that the participants remain “sceptical”<\/b> about Russia’s actual willingness to implement the partial ceasefire<\/b> it\u00a0agreed to, at least theoretically, in Saudi Arabia<\/a> with U.S. emissaries.<\/p>\n In the French\u00a0capital, the “willing” discussed how to make the French-British proposal<\/b> to deploy a “reassurance force<\/b>” in Ukraine “operational and concrete,” with the understanding that the priority must be the strengthening of Kyiv’s army<\/b>, which will remain the first and most important element that will ensure the security of the former Soviet republic in the long term.<\/p>\n The host announced a plan to deploy troops\u2014provided voluntarily by “several European countries”\u2014to unspecified “strategic locations”<\/b> when (and if) a peace treaty is concluded. Such troops should act as a deterrent against possible Russian aggression<\/b>, explained Monsieur le Pr\u00e9sident <\/i>at the end of the summit. They will not be peacekeepers, the Elys\u00e9e Palace tenant clarified, as they will not replace the Ukrainian armed forces and, above all, will not be positioned on the front lines<\/b> but rather in the rear, holding themselves ready to intervene<\/b> in the event of a breach of the truce.<\/p>\n After all, it was clear from the eve of the summit, which lasted about three hours, that there would never be a\u00a0unanimous agreement<\/strong> on sending troops, which remains a particularly contentious issue<\/b> for many governments. But “we do not need unanimity,” Macron stressed, acknowledging the different degrees of willingness<\/b> within the coalition.<\/p>\n For example, as widely anticipated, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni<\/b> is not up for sending soldiers to Ukraine<\/strong> unless it is coordinated under a broader United Nations<\/b> mandate. Rome’s idea, according to sources in the Chigi Palace, “is gaining ground<\/b>” even among other European chancelleries. Meloni also reiterated the importance of working alongside the White House<\/b>, hoping for Washington’s participation in the next meeting of the willing.<\/p>\n We shall see. As usual, EU states are moving in short order. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro S\u00e1nchez<\/b> advocates creating a European army<\/b> with troops from the Twenty-Seven, while Poland continues to increase defence spending<\/b> and aims to train the entire adult male population. Germany and Estonia are reportedly opening up to sending soldiers<\/b> to Ukraine while stressing that many issues still need to be discussed. As for Paris, Macron announced\u00a0a\u00a0new \u20ac2 billion<\/strong>\u00a0aid package for Kyiv last night<\/span>.<\/p>\n On the other hand, the EU’s commitments are concerned with military supplies and financial aid. There was talk of sending 2 million large-calibre artillery shells<\/b> worth \u20ac5 billion, i.e. what’s left<\/a> of the so-called “Kallas Plan<\/b>” (although the knot of funding has not yet been unravelled), of Ukraine’s participation in the joint European procurement promoted by the Safe<\/b> instrument\u2014the 150 billion put on the table by the Commission under the ReArm Europe plan\u2014and the strengthening of the military training mission EUMAM<\/b>. Into Kyiv’s coffers should then come 18 billion from Brussels<\/b>, as the EU share of the 50 billion G7 maxi-loan, as well as another 17 billion from individual member countries<\/b>.<\/p>\n The best way to support Ukraine is to stay consistent in our objective to reach a just and lasting peace. This means keeping up the pressure on Russia through sanctions.<\/p>\n I will convey this message at today\u2019s Leaders\u2019 meeting on peace and security for #Ukraine<\/a> organised by\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/csBYcIbkr1<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Volodymyr](\"https:\/\/www.eunews.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Imagoeconomica_2414161-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/a>![\"Giorgia](\"https:\/\/www.eunews.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/36e19720-5905-4722-988f-be9f1d29f23b-1024x683.jpg\")
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