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A coordination group has been established in Paris to ensure rapid operational interaction between countries of the coalition of volunteers, the United States and Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron said during a joint press conference with leaders of the so-called “coalition of the willing” following a summit in Paris.
According to Macron, the new mechanism will make it possible to fully integrate the forces involved and ensure coordinated action at the operational level. The coordination group will work in close cooperation with the coalition’s headquarters, which is already operating in Paris.
Macron noted that within the coalition, building on work carried out over recent months, the approach to security has been strengthened along two key tracks. The first involves the creation of mechanisms to monitor compliance with a ceasefire. The United States will play a leading role in this process, with participation from several countries that have expressed readiness to contribute.
The second track concerns long-term support for Ukraine, primarily its Armed Forces, which, the French president said, remain and will continue to be the first line of defence and deterrence against aggression.
“That is why we have planned, based on the concept of a voluntary force of 800,000 personnel, training, capabilities and all the necessary means to ensure that this army can deter any new aggression,” Macron said.
Paris summit
On January 6, Ukraine’s partners held a meeting in Paris focused on future security guarantees for Kyiv in the event of an end to the war with Russia. Key topics included coordinating a common position among Ukraine, Europe and the United States, as well as the potential deployment of foreign troops after a ceasefire is established.
It is expected that at the leaders’ level the parties will finalize draft security arrangements with an emphasis on guarantees and Ukraine’s recovery, after which negotiations will continue in the United States. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk suggested that documents formalizing a joint U.S.-European position could be signed in the near future, possibly in Washington.
According to Sky News, allies are also preparing to assume legally binding guarantees in the event of renewed aggression by Russia.
Ahead of the summit, Reuters published a draft declaration providing for military, intelligence and logistical support for Ukraine, diplomatic steps and the imposition of additional sanctions on Russia. The document, however, has not yet been approved by the participating leaders.
