Emmanuel Macron welcomed President Zelensky on Wednesday in preparation for the summit for "peace and security in Ukraine" that will bring together leaders from 31 countries (including Spain) in Paris on Thursday. The Ukrainian president arrived accompanied by his wife, Olena Zelenska, on Wednesday afternoon.
The bilateral meeting between Macron and Zelensky, sealed with a working dinner at the Elysee Palace, will serve as preparation for the meeting to review the volunteer coalition (countries willing to contribute soldiers in a hypothetical peace mission) and to renew military and financial support to Kyiv in the short and long term.
France, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine are finalizing a peace agreement that will be sent to the United States and will be discussed behind closed doors on Thursday. The agreement includes the deployment of a peace mission in Ukraine, something Moscow has outright rejected. At least 20 countries have shown willingness to contribute soldiers, although the initiative has created a significant division among EU members.
Canada and Norway will also participate in the meeting as members of NATO at a particularly critical moment, with the announcement of a possible ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine in the Black Sea.
"The agreement is a first step, but insufficient for a lasting ceasefire", warned sources from the Elysee Palace, stating that the Paris summit is being held in coordination with Washington "and with full transparency with our American partners."
Emmanuel Macron has committed to inform Donald Trump by phone about the summit's outcome. The French president is expected to address the media on Wednesday afternoon to report on the progress of the meeting in which Volodymyr Zelensky will actively participate.
The main objective of the summit is to give a new boost to military and financial aid to Ukraine, both in the short and long term, convinced that the country will be "the first line of defense against future Russian aggressions." Elysee sources acknowledged skepticism towards Russia's promises and the "manipulative capacity" demonstrated by Moscow to date.
The most critical point at the Thursday summit will undoubtedly be the so-called reassurance force, the supposed security force of European countries that could be composed of up to 30,000 soldiers tasked with ensuring the ceasefire against cities, energy infrastructures, and ports, according to the initial plan outlined by Emmanuel Macron and premier Keir Starmer in the event of a peace agreement.
The shared enthusiasm of Paris and London for this idea contrasts with deep divisions among EU member states, with Italy and Poland being the countries most resistant to this proposal (which Spain has also initially not supported).
When convening the summit at the end of the last European Council, Macron stated that the goal will be to seek "an explicit and detailed commitment" of military support to Ukraine from the allies. Another goal will be to "explore a durable and sustainable model for the Ukrainian army" to prevent future Russian aggressions.