Twenty-six countries have offered to contribute to Ukraine's security after any ceasefire deal with Russia, French President Emmanuel Macron said after a summit on Thursday, adding that US support would be finalized in coming days.
A summit of Kyiv "coalition of the willing" allies to firm up security guarantees if or when there is a peace deal in Ukraine was followed by a video conference with US President Donald Trump.
"We have today 26 countries who have formally committed -- some others have not yet taken a position -- to deploy as a 'reassurance force' troops in Ukraine, or be present on the ground, in the sea, or in the air," Macron told reporters after the summit.
He added that "this force does not seek to wage any war on Russia".
American support for the Europe-sponsored security guarantees would be finalized "in the coming days," Macron added.
He said there was "no doubt" concerning the US readiness to take part in the security effort.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked European allies for agreeing to send troops to Ukraine post-war, describing the move as a first "concrete step".
"I think that today, for the first time in a long time, this is the first such serious concrete step," Zelensky told reporters.
The French president also said that European countries would impose new sanctions on Russia -- "in collaboration with the United States" -- should Moscow continue to refuse a peace deal.
AFP
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