Russia rejects Western security guarantees for Ukraine

RUSSIA rejected the notion of Western security guarantees for Ukraine yesterday, after more than two dozen countries pledged to join a “reassurance” force to deploy in the war-torn country after any eventual peace deal with Moscow.

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A force to deter Russia from again attacking its neighbour is a key pillar of the security backstop a coalition of mainly European countries want to offer to Ukraine if the war ends via a peace deal or a ceasefire.

The extent of any US involvement remains uncertain, even after European leaders spoke to US President Donald Trump via video conference following the Paris summit at which the “coalition of the willing” pledged its force.

But yesterday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov rejected the idea of Western security guarantees for Ukraine, saying that “foreign, especially European and American” troops “definitely cannot” provide such assurances to Kyiv. The Paris summit was hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and attended by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, while others, like British premier Keir Starmer, participated remotely.