Paris, January 7, 2026 – Ukraine and the United States have continued their pivotal discussions in Paris today, aiming to establish a ceasefire with Russia. This comes after yesterday’s agreement with European allies on a comprehensive set of security guarantees for Ukraine.
‘Declaration of Paris’ and Multinational Force
In a significant development, the 35 member countries of the “Coalition of Volunteers,” primarily European nations, adopted the “Declaration of Paris” yesterday. This declaration outlines their commitment to deploying a multinational force in Ukraine and participating in the monitoring of a potential ceasefire, under American leadership. This initiative would come into effect once a peace agreement, currently highly hypothetical, is reached with Russia.
French President Emmanuel Macron lauded the declaration, stating it “recognizes for the first time” an “operational convergence” among the Coalition, Ukraine, and the United States. He emphasized that these “robust” security guarantees are crucial to prevent a “Ukrainian surrender” and mitigate any “new threat” to the country.
Following the declaration, President Macron announced on France 2 that “several thousand” French soldiers could be deployed to maintain peace in Ukraine after a ceasefire is signed. While the United States expressed its willingness to provide “support,” it did not sign the declaration, and the specifics of its military commitment remain unclear. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff affirmed that President Donald Trump “strongly supports these security protocols,” which aim to “deter any future attack” in Ukraine. Mr. Witkoff and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remained in Paris to continue their discussions today.
Uncertainties Remain Despite Progress
The multinational force, a concept under consideration for several months, will be formed by volunteer countries from the Coalition, led by Europeans and “supported” by the United States, according to the final declaration released by the French presidency. Notably, the United States’ contributions in “intelligence and logistics” and its commitment to provide “support” to the force “in case of attack,” which were present in a draft declaration seen by AFP, are not explicitly mentioned in the final text.
Despite these omissions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed satisfaction, noting that “it is important that the coalition now has substantial documents, and not just words.” However, he acknowledged that several questions “remain open,” particularly the highly sensitive issue of territorial concessions demanded by Moscow.
European leaders, including Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, stressed that the ball is now in Russia’s court. Tusk highlighted that any resolution “obviously requires goodwill on the part of the Russian aggressor as well,” while the Kremlin has consistently opposed any Western military deployment in Ukraine. Moscow continues to insist on its demands for the entire Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, including territories still controlled by the Ukrainian army. Zelensky indicated that certain “ideas,” such as the demilitarization of disputed territories, are on the table and suggested discussing them “at the leadership level.” Steve Witkoff, hoping for future “compromises,” reported “significant progress.”
International Reactions and Broader Context
The operational details of the multinational force also remain imprecise, with some countries exercising caution regarding their contributions. Italy reiterated its refusal to send soldiers to Ukraine, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that German troops might participate, but only in a NATO member country bordering Ukraine.
The United States’ support for Kyiv is critical, even though it is not part of the Coalition, as it is essential to persuade other allies to engage. However, a ceasefire remains hypothetical. A meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump in late December, and calls between the American president and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, have not yielded progress on Moscow’s territorial demands.
Discussions also touched upon the American operation in Venezuela and Donald Trump’s statements advocating for US control over Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. European leaders largely avoided questions on these topics in the presence of US envoys. Nevertheless, several European countries, including France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Italy, issued a joint statement of support for Greenland and Denmark. Emmanuel Macron asserted on France 2, “There is no scenario for me where the United States of America would be in a situation of violating Danish sovereignty” in Greenland. Later that evening, the White House spokesperson informed AFP that Donald Trump was considering “several options” to acquire Greenland, including “using the military.”
These ongoing negotiations and declarations underscore the complex geopolitical landscape surrounding the conflict in Ukraine, with various international actors seeking to navigate a path towards a sustainable peace while addressing their own strategic interests.
