French President Emmanuel Macron will host a high-level meeting in Paris this week, bringing together 30 European and NATO military officials to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine and the creation of a joint security force. The talks aim to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities and deter future Russian aggression.
Key Defense Ministers and NATO Allies to Attend
The closed-door discussions will begin on Tuesday, followed by a meeting on Wednesday involving defense ministers from Europe’s five major military powers: France, Britain, Germany, Italy, and Poland. Representatives from the European Union, NATO, and Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov are also expected to participate.
Notably, army chiefs or their representatives from nearly all 32 NATO member states will attend, with the exception of the United States. Non-NATO EU members Ireland, Cyprus, and Austria will also send representatives. Additionally, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea will join the talks remotely, according to a French military official who spoke to The Associated Press.
Macron Pushes for "War Economy Mode"
The meeting comes as Macron continues to urge France’s defense industry to shift to a "war economy mode" to meet the growing demands of global security challenges. On Friday, the French president is scheduled to meet with defense manufacturers to discuss ramping up production and innovation.
French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu emphasized the importance of the talks, stating that they will lay the groundwork for potential security guarantees for Ukraine. "It is simply a question of looking ahead and thinking about what the Ukrainian army should be in the future," Lecornu said ahead of the meeting. He also reiterated France’s commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, adding, "We will reject any form of demilitarization of Ukraine."
Ukraine’s Ceasefire Talks and Military Strength
The Paris meeting coincides with Ukraine’s ongoing negotiations with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia, where a partial ceasefire with Russia is reportedly under discussion. Meanwhile, the talks in Paris raise questions about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s claims that the Ukrainian army has grown to over 800,000 personnel, making it the largest in Europe.
The multinational effort underscores Europe’s determination to bolster Ukraine’s defenses and ensure long-term stability in the region amid ongoing tensions with Russia.