Macron Pledges Military Aid to Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron announced an additional €2 billion in military assistance for Ukraine during a press conference in Paris on Wednesday. The pledge comes ahead of a high-stakes international summit on Thursday, where world leaders will discuss long-term security guarantees for Kiev.

The new aid package includes Milan anti-tank missiles, MICA missiles for Mirage fighter jets, Mistral air defense systems, armored vehicles, munitions, and drones. Macron emphasized that Thursday’s summit would also address restructuring Ukraine’s armed forces to bolster its defenses against future attacks.

Ceasefire Talks and the Role of Peacekeeping Forces

While Macron ruled out deploying peacekeeping troops to front-line combat zones, he suggested they could be stationed in strategic rear positions, such as key towns or military bases. "Our priority remains strengthening Ukraine’s military capabilities," he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking alongside Macron, expressed hope that the U.S. would uphold its commitment to enforcing a ceasefire. "We’ve held productive talks with American officials, unblocking critical aid and intelligence," Zelenskyy said. "We trust the U.S. has the resolve to secure a partial ceasefire."

On Tuesday, Washington claimed progress in brokering a Black Sea ceasefire deal between Ukraine and Russia. However, Moscow later insisted it would only comply if Western sanctions on its banks and exports were lifted—a condition Macron dismissed as premature.

"Peace through strength does not mean lifting sanctions," Macron asserted. "Their removal depends entirely on Russia’s compliance with international law." His remarks appeared to criticize the Trump administration, which recently eased sanctions on Russian agricultural trade.

Zelenskyy, meanwhile, urged Western allies to maintain and intensify economic pressure on Moscow. "Only diplomacy backed by force is effective," he said.

A "Decisive Phase" in the War

Macron framed the upcoming summit as a pivotal moment to end Russia’s aggression, even as the U.S. engages Moscow in negotiations. He called on Russia to accept Ukraine’s proposed 30-day ceasefire "without preconditions," accusing the Kremlin of prolonging the conflict.

"Russia has no right to dictate terms on the support we provide Ukraine," Macron said. "There is one aggressor and one nation defending itself."

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from Jamaica, acknowledged the challenges in securing a lasting truce. "It won’t be simple, but we’re on the path to dialogue," he said.

Tensions flared further as Kiev and Moscow traded blame for derailing a tentative agreement to halt attacks on energy infrastructure and Black Sea shipping lanes. Macron condemned Russia for imposing "new conditions," while praising Ukraine’s willingness to pursue peace despite being under invasion.

The Paris summit will focus on defining Europe’s security commitments to Ukraine once a ceasefire is reached in the three-year-old war.