Ukraine's Defense: A New Plan on the Horizon

Ukraine is eager for answers as military leaders from over 30 countries gather in Paris. The goal? To form a united force to stop future Russian aggression. This meeting is a big deal. It's the result of France and Britain's efforts to rally nations under a so-called “coalition of the willing” to protect Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron will be there, and he says the talks will happen with close coordination with NATO. The talks will include almost all NATO countries, minus the United States. Other nations like Japan and South Korea will also be there. The focus will be on what each country can contribute, like troops, weapons, or other help. French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu thinks this meeting is crucial. It will set the stage for security guarantees and show how European armed forces can gain credibility for long-term diplomatic talks. Ukrainian officials are a bit hesitant. They want clear security guarantees. They worry about how the coalition will respond if Russia breaks a future ceasefire. What if Russia launches a big attack? How quickly will the coalition react? Western and Ukrainian officials admit there's no solid plan yet. They need to see what countries are willing to offer first. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is on board with the idea but is skeptical. He thinks foreign troops alone won't be enough. He wants weapons from the U. S. and Europe, and support for Ukraine to build its own defense industry. A senior Ukrainian official said, "Diplomats are discussing, military officials are discussing, but we still don’t have real proposals. " The talks are moving forward, but there's no solid plan yet. France and Britain are leading the charge. They want a force strong enough to stop Russia from attacking Ukraine again. This force could include heavy weapons and stockpiles that can be quickly sent to Ukraine if Russia breaks a truce. Another idea is to hit Russian assets directly if they violate the agreement. The Paris talks will include not just NATO and European Union nations but also Asian and Oceania countries. Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea will join remotely. Turkey, with its large army and defense industry, will be there too. The U. S. isn't invited because European nations want to show they can handle most of the job. Last month, some Western officials talked about a small Europe-led “reassurance force” of less than 30, 000 troops. But the numbers are still up for discussion. Troops could be stationed away from the front line at key sites like nuclear power plants, backed by Western air and sea power. The front line would mostly be monitored remotely. Allied navies could also help in the Black Sea, clearing mines and patrolling to keep international waters safe. The idea is to combine the capabilities of countries ready to help. This will offer security guarantees to make sure the peace deal is strong and verifiable. Some Western officials think there will be several stages to a peace plan. A one-month freeze, as proposed by Zelenskyy and European leaders, could be the first step. Ukrainian officials are optimistic about the coalition, but they know they have few other options with NATO off the table.