Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had an extensive conversation on September 5 with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, during which he emphasized the need to expedite work on security guarantees for Ukraine.
This is reported by Kyiv24
“It is important to work faster for the sake of security guarantees for Ukraine. It is important to be as productive as possible together with America. It is important to strengthen our air defense. And we will continue to coordinate for the sake of real diplomacy – Putin pretends that he does not need peace, that he does not need to negotiate, but in reality, the pressure from the world can shape Russia’s interest in ending the war,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
Allies’ Involvement in Security Guarantees
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has not yet commented on the results of this conversation. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron, who, along with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, leads the “Coalition of the Willing,” announced that 26 countries have agreed to participate in post-war security guarantees for Ukraine. According to him, these countries are considering the possibility of deploying assurance forces on Ukrainian territory, as well as maintaining a presence at sea and in the air.
U.S. support for this plan has not yet been finalized, but, as emphasized by most coalition members, Washington’s participation is considered crucial for effectively supporting Ukraine’s allies.
Mission Details and Russia’s Reaction
So far, allies have not disclosed specific details regarding the number of troops and the contribution of each country. Meanwhile, according to diplomatic sources in EU countries, the European mission in Ukraine could consist of between 25,000 to 30,000 military personnel, although these figures may still be adjusted.
Russia has repeatedly rejected the idea of deploying foreign troops on Ukrainian territory. Russian President Vladimir Putin previously stated that Moscow is prepared to resort to military action if an acceptable peace agreement is not reached.