UK, allies pledge support for Ukraine ahead of Paris summit
The United Kingdom and its allies have reaffirmed their readiness to support Ukraine both before and after any potential peace agreement aimed at ending Russia’s full-scale invasion.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey, speaking in Kyiv ahead of a high-level summit in Paris, said coalition partners were committed to helping Ukraine secure its skies, seas and land once a deal is reached.
Around 30 world leaders are expected to participate in Thursday’s meeting, either in person or virtually, with French diplomats confirming that technical work on providing security guarantees has already been completed.
French President Emmanuel Macron, however, cautioned that the real question remains “the sincerity of Russia.”
His remarks came as President Vladimir Putin, speaking from Beijing, insisted the war could continue, though he hinted at a “light at the end of the tunnel” if Kyiv agreed to Moscow’s demands.
The Paris summit is expected to focus heavily on the role of the United States. Diplomats say an American “safety net” remains critical, with NATO chief Mark Rutte stressing the need for clarity on what the coalition can realistically deliver.
While the US has ruled out deploying troops on the ground, it has signalled willingness to act as a backstop to any ceasefire arrangements.
Former US President Donald Trump, who hosted Putin last month in Alaska to widespread criticism, is set to join the summit discussions by phone.
Healey praised Trump for bringing Putin into talks without closing off options, while acknowledging lingering concerns among European leaders that the Russian president may simply be buying time.
The coalition’s plan includes continued training and equipping of Ukraine’s military, recycling seized Russian assets into aid, and potentially deploying European troops in Ukraine to deter future aggression once a ceasefire is in place.
Healey announced that £1 billion in frozen Russian funds had already been redirected into military support for Kyiv.
On the battlefield, however, the war shows little sign of slowing. Ukraine reported neutralising 84 Russian drones overnight, although 17 locations across the country were hit. Last week, one of the deadliest strikes since the invasion killed 22 people in Kyiv, including four children, when a missile struck a residential block.
For many Ukrainians, such attacks have hardened scepticism about peace talks. Standing amid the ruins of his home, Kyiv resident Ihor Maharynsky, who lost his wife in the missile strike, questioned the value of negotiations with Moscow.
“What kind of strategic target is there here?” he asked, pointing to a nearby car park and technical college.
