At the press conference of the Willing Macron and Starmer they go straight: “We will deploy troops to Ukraine at the end of the war”. But the peace process with Moscow is at a standstill.
From yet another meeting of the Coalition of the Willingheld yesterday in Paris, new ideas and some interesting memoranda of understanding emerged on the European vision of what will happen after the war. Let’s do a spoiler: none of them will do well in Moscow.
With international attention shifted to other theaters (Venezuela and Greenland above all), the fact that the American diplomatic effort now seems to be in a phase of substantial stalemate seems to have gone unnoticed. However, this does not stop Kiev’s allies and himself Volodymyr Zelensky Of try their hand at signing agreements and memoranda that, most likely, will never be implemented.
French and British troops will be deployed in Ukraine
Numerous announcements were made since the press conference held yesterday in Paris. First of all, that of the British Prime Minister Keir Starmerwhich made official «the signing of a declaration of intent on the deployment of troops to Ukraine in the event of a peace agreement».
With it, “British and French troops will be able to operate inside Ukraine, securing its seas and skies and regenerating the Ukrainian armed forces for the future». All under the auspices of the United States, which would not participate with soldiers in the field but would “monitor” the maintenance of peace.
“No” from Italy and Germany
The German Chancellor also joined the chorus Friedrich Merzaccording to which «after the ceasefire Germany will accept security responsibilities for Ukraine and the continent».
However, the sending of German soldiers is not envisaged, a position also shared by Rome, which in a note released by Palazzo Chigi welcomed the commitment to ensure that security guarantees are «inspired by Article 5 of the Atlantic Alliance, as long suggested by Italy» and reiterated however «the exclusion of the use of Italian troops on the ground».
Moscow will never accept the presence of Western troops
A small problem remains, the ceasefire is missing, and its achievement is nowhere near.
Here the problem of “doing the math without the innkeeper” arises again. Europe makes plans for the post-peace period without making peace. Moscow has reiterated that since 2022 the presence of Western soldiers in Ukraine was one of the main reasons for the start of the invasion of Ukraine.
So how European leaders and American negotiators plan to make Moscow swallow such a problem is not known, given that according to Starmer the Franco-British troops «they will build protected facilities for weapons and military equipment» in Ukraine, practically the materialization of Moscow’s security nightmare.
No limits to the Ukrainian army
More, according to the French President Emmanuel Macronafter the end of the war Kiev will maintain a Gargantuan army of 800 thousand men. «The Ukrainian Armed Forces will remain the first line of deterrence against aggression», the French President declared at a press conference.
Small note, European taxpayers will pay for this armygiven the obvious impossibility for Kiev to finance such expenses. To this end, the statement released at the end of the meeting speaks of «long-term defense packages, support for financing the purchase of weapons and the provision of practical and technical support to Ukraine in the construction of defensive fortifications»
Needless to say, the size of the army was another of the critical points on which Moscow does not seem to want to listen to reasons, claiming a strong limitation of Kiev’s defense capabilities.
Territorial issue still to be resolved
The special correspondent Steve Witkoff it therefore clarified the contents of the other agreements being drawn up with Kiev. Among them “the prosperity agreement”, which the envoy specified involves the large American investment fund Blackrock.
However, the issue still remains to be resolved territorial node“we will continue discussions and hope to reach a compromise on this matter,” Witkoff said at the conference, while further meetings are scheduled today between the American and Ukrainian delegations on this matter.
Peace is still a long way off
The truth is that peace is still a long way off. Yesterday Zelensky declared that the peace process “is 90% complete”, forgetting to specify that it is between the United States and Ukraine, that is, between two allies.
Russia continues to stand at the door, waiting for the results of the dialogue between Kiev and Washington. If four years of repeated declarations and threats have not been in vain, However, what was agreed between Europeans and Ukrainians will be rejected in full from Moscow.
Overall, one cannot help but notice the lack of substantial dialogue between Russia and the United States, limited to some sporadic meetings between special envoys. Regardless of the proclamations and plans that will not be implemented, in short, there is no peace in sight in Ukraine and the war will continue for a long time to come.
