This is the time for Europe to do its utmost to support Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron on March 11 called on military leaders from across Europe and other regions to develop a credible plan “to ensure security” for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire, according to the Élysée Palace.

French President Emmanuel Macron is trying to push for a united European response to Washington's sudden policy shift in US-Russia relations. (Source: AFP)

The call came during a closed-door meeting in Paris attended by military leaders from more than 30 allied countries, especially as Ukraine backed a US proposal for a month-long ceasefire and agreed to immediate talks with Russia.

President Macron is trying to push for a unified European response to Washington's sudden policy shift in US-Russia relations.

The meeting in Paris brought together representatives from 34 countries, mainly from Europe and members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), but also including Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

However, the US - a key member of NATO - did not send a representative to attend.

“This is the moment when Europe must do its utmost to support Ukraine, while also protecting itself,” Mr. Macron declared at the meeting.

The French leader stressed that, in the context of “accelerating peace negotiations”, it is necessary to start planning to “define security guarantees” to realize a lasting peace for the Eastern European country.

President Macron has also teamed up with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to push for the creation of a “coalition of the willing” to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire in Ukraine.

According to the Élysée Palace, military leaders from Europe and NATO, including Britain and Türkiye, agreed that security guarantees needed to be “credible and long-term, and accompanied by sustained support for the Ukrainian military”.

More than three years after Russia launched a special military campaign in Ukraine, the "old continent" is rushing to strengthen its defense capabilities and reduce its dependence on the United States.

Europe is increasingly concerned about US President Donald Trump’s renewed contacts with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and criticism of Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, raising concerns that Trump could pressure Kiev into accepting a deal that benefits Moscow.

The Trump administration said late on March 11 that it would lift the freeze on aid to Kiev after Ukraine accepted the US proposal.

Shortly afterwards, Mr Macron posted on social network X that “the decision now depends entirely on Russia”, while praising the “progress” made in peace talks in Saudi Arabia.

In addition, on the eve of the defense meeting in Paris, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu declared that he “will reject any form of demilitarization of Ukraine,” saying: “It is simply a matter of looking to the future and defining what the Ukrainian army should be like.”

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tong-thong-phap-day-la-thoi-diem-chau-au-phai-doc-toan-luc-ho-tro-ukraine-307224.html