Russia rejects security deals for Ukraine

Moscow accused of ‘playing for time’

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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 wartorn country after any eventual peace deal with Moscow.

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

But yesterday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected the idea of Western security guarantees for Ukraine, saying that “foreign, especially European and American” troops “definitely cannot” provide such assurances.

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.

The meeting represented a new push led by Mr Macron to show that Europe can act independently of the US after Mr Trump launched direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.