A key meeting of European leaders who have previously held talks with US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will take place in Paris on Thursday, September 4, the Financial Times reported, citing three diplomats familiar with the plans.
The following will arrive in the French capital:
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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz,
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British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer,
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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte,
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President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
The publication notes that the Elysee Palace refused to comment on the upcoming meeting.
Last month, Trump and Zelensky held a closed-door meeting with a group of European leaders, during which an agreement was reached on the possibility of a multinational contingent in Ukraine, according to the FT.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that a meeting of defense ministers from the so-called “Coalition of the Willing” countries took place last week. According to her, “fairly precise plans” have already been developed, which include key elements for increasing the military presence.
Ukraine insists that any peace agreement with Russia must include specific security guarantees, not just financial or technical assistance, but also the deployment of troops on Ukrainian territory.
According to the FT, it is about tens of thousands of troops under European leadership, who will receive support from the US. This could include command systems, intelligence and surveillance equipment.
The coming days should clarify the contours of the future agreement and whether European states are ready for such a large-scale step. For Kyiv, the issue of security guarantees remains key in any negotiation process.