France releases text of declaration on security guarantees for peace in Ukraine

Members of the Coalition of the Willing, together with Ukraine and the US, have signed a joint declaration on security guarantees aimed at achieving a stable and lasting peace in Ukraine.

Source: the text of the declaration posted by the Office of the President of Ukraine, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Participants reaffirmed their commitment to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with the principles of the United Nations Charter at a meeting in Paris on 6 January. They welcomed the progress made so far, including through discussions between American, Ukrainian, European and other international partners.

Quite from the declaration: "In particular, the Coalition was clear that Ukraine's ability to defend itself is critically important for ensuring the future of Ukraine's and Euro-Atlantic collective security. We confirmed that ensuring the sovereignty and lasting security of Ukraine shall be an integral part of a peace agreement, and that any settlement will have to be backed up by robust security guarantees for Ukraine."

Details: The parties expressed readiness to undertake commitments to a system of politically and legally binding security guarantees that would come into force once a ceasefire takes effect. These guarantees would complement bilateral security agreements and be implemented in line with the signatories' respective legal and constitutional frameworks.

The guarantees would include the following elements:

• participation in a proposed US-led ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism
• continued support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including critical long-term military assistance and weapons, to ensure their sustained combat capability, as they will remain the first line of defence and deterrence
• the creation of multinational forces for Ukraine, formed through contributions from Coalition members, to support the recovery of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and strengthen deterrence
• commitments to support Ukraine in the event of any future armed attack by Russia, with the aim of restoring peace
• a commitment to deepen long-term defence cooperation with Ukraine
• the signatories also agreed to establish a US-Ukraine-Coalition coordination group at the Coalition's operational headquarters in Paris.

Background:

• UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron signed a declaration of intent, alongside Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on deploying troops in Ukraine if a peace agreement is concluded.
• Zelenskyy also said that detailed discussions had taken place with the US team on monitoring potential violations of a peace agreement should one be concluded.

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