The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, will meet starting next Monday with “the majority” of the groups in Congress to decide what Spain’s contribution should be in Ukraine when the war ends.
“From the beginning, Spain has defended Ukraine’s accession to the European Union,” stated the head of the Executive, who added that the Government will “continue to help both Ukraine and, logically, the European Commission” to that end.
Sánchez participated this Tuesday in Paris in a meeting with representatives of 35 countries, including 27 heads of State or Government, to define the terms of a “multinational force” and future security guarantees for Ukraine, in the event that a ceasefire agreement is reached with Russia.
In addition to the majority of European leaders and the Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen and the President of the Council, António Costa, were also present at the Elysee Palace.
Before the joint meeting, Emmanuel Macron received his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, and the American emissaries Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. “These talks aim to provide more protection and strength to Ukraine. We have the support of our partners and measures that guarantee the real security of our people,” Zelensky had declared in a message in X upon his arrival in the French capital, covered this Tuesday by a blanket of snow.
Shortly before the summit, the AFP and Reuters agencies had revealed part of the draft joint declaration that was being discussed. In it, the coalition members reaffirm their willingness to provide “legally binding” security guarantees to Ukraine, including the deployment of an international force “backed” by US military means, once a ceasefire is reached.
A proposal that the leaders of the Volunteer Coalition have been discussing in different meetings in recent months. This coalition, made up of around thirty countries, has committed to strengthening its support for Ukraine and collaborating with a peacekeeping force on Ukrainian territory.
“This meeting represents considerable progress towards a solid and lasting peace, recognizing the convergence between the 35 countries of the Volunteer Coalition to build solid security guarantees,” said Emmanuel Macron in the subsequent press conference.
In the event of a ceasefire, the United States — which is not one of the member countries — would be willing to “supervise” a “verification mechanism,” with the “participation” of the coalition, according to this text, which may still undergo slight modifications, according to diplomatic sources.
In addition, a multinational force of soldiers, under the direction of France and the United Kingdom, would be sent not to supervise the truce, but to “support the reconstruction of Ukraine’s armed forces and support deterrence” against the risk of new Russian attacks, according to the project.
“Based on the work carried out in recent months, we have consolidated our approach with the implementation of ceasefire monitoring mechanisms that will be under American leadership,” Macron said, “but with contributions from several States that have expressed their availability.”
American participation is one of the crucial points in the formation of the international force. It involves assistance in “intelligence and logistics” but also, according to the version advanced by AFP, “support” in the “case of an attack” by Russia on the international force and “the adoption of sanctions.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the United Kingdom and France will establish military centers in Ukraine, in case a peace agreement is reached with Russia, and cells that will serve as coordination for the different participants in the multinational force. “Putin is not willing to show a willingness to reach peace. We will maintain pressure on Russia, including new measures on the oil trade and on parallel fleet operators who support Russia,” Starmer said.
The leaders also discussed in Paris the elements of a common vision on the “modalities of a possible ceasefire” between Ukraine and Russia and the way in which it could be “verified” through “technical means, drones, satellites”, as well as possible responses in case of violation.
Although the leaders discussed the contributions of the different coalition countries to the military mission, it was announced that only “what military secrecy allows” would be made public. The text will constitute a “declaration of intentions”, but will not contain “concrete logistical and financial decisions”, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had indicated before leaving for Paris.
Macron calls for a European Defense
The issue of territorial concessions, a central issue in the peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, was also addressed at the summit. A meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump at the end of December and several calls between the American president and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, did not allow progress on this point.
In recent days, the French presidency has presented this new summit of the Volunteer Coalition as an example of the “convergence” of its members and as the culmination of the efforts that the Europeans began to deploy approximately a year ago, particularly after the arrival of Donald Trump to the White House “so that the US does not abandon Ukraine.”
A few days ago in his end-of-year speech, Emmanuel Macron referred to the importance of the meeting held on Tuesday. “European Defense has long been a topic of debate. It has begun to materialize and, in 2026, it will accelerate starting next January 6 in Paris: many European States and allies will make concrete commitments to protect Ukraine and guarantee a just and lasting peace on our European continent,” declared the French head of state.
Source: www.eldiario.es
