European leaders meet U.S. envoy Witkoff to discuss Ukraine security
World Desk
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met European leaders in Paris on Thursday to discuss long-term security guarantees for Ukraine and continued American support after the war. He is also scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the talks, a Ukrainian official said.
The meeting, part of a “coalition of the willing,” focused on plans for military aid and security arrangements in the event of a ceasefire to prevent future Russian aggression. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that any European security force in Ukraine would require U.S. backing. Macron said preparatory work on the guarantees had been completed and should now receive political approval.
Ukraine’s presidential chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said guarantees must be strong and effective “in the air, at sea, on land, and in cyberspace.” Earlier this month, the U.S. indicated readiness to support guarantees similar to NATO’s collective defense, though the practical details remain unclear.
Meanwhile, Ukraine reported that Russia launched 112 strike and decoy drones overnight Thursday, of which 84 were intercepted or jammed. Some coalition leaders attended the Paris talks in person, while others joined virtually, and a call with U.S. President Donald Trump was planned afterward.
