Published Time: 09-05-2025, 14:30

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 26 nations have pledged to provide troops and security forces for Ukraine once active fighting in the war with Russia ends. The commitment, made during a high-level meeting in Paris, underscores international efforts to guarantee Ukraine’s long-term stability after a ceasefire or peace agreement is reached.

A Coalition to Secure Ukraine’s Future

The announcement followed a gathering of the “coalition of the willing,” a group of 35 nations supporting Kyiv. According to Macron, 26 of those countries confirmed plans to deploy forces on land, at sea, or in the air to help ensure Ukraine’s security in the post-war period.

Macron emphasized that the reassurance force would not be designed to wage war against Russia, but rather to deter further aggression. “The objective is to prevent any new major attack and to involve the 26 states directly in Ukraine’s lasting security,” Macron said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The French leader also noted that Washington had signaled its readiness to participate in the planning process, though specific details remain under discussion.

U.S. Signals Conditional Support

Both Macron and Zelenskyy highlighted that the United States has expressed willingness to contribute to the security framework. While the scope of U.S. involvement is not yet defined, Macron said planning would be finalized in consultation with Washington.

Zelenskyy welcomed the development, adding: “As for in what format, I am not yet ready to tell you in detail, but the U.S. position is very important for us.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, co-leading the initiative with Macron, has repeatedly stressed that U.S. backing is essential for any European reassurance mission to succeed.

Pressure on Russia to End the Conflict

European leaders participating in the Paris meeting—some in person, others virtually—called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to work toward ending hostilities. Germany warned that sanctions against Moscow would intensify if Russia continued to delay peace efforts.

Following the session, leaders also spoke by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump, who urged Europe to stop buying Russian oil and gas, citing figures that the EU had paid Moscow approximately €1.1 billion in fuel sales over the past year. Trump also encouraged stronger economic pressure on China, accusing Beijing of indirectly funding Russia’s war.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed three areas of focus, including convening a summit with Zelenskyy, pushing for a ceasefire agreement, and expanding sanctions if Moscow resists negotiations.

Zelenskyy Calls for Direct Talks with Putin

President Zelenskyy reiterated his view that direct negotiations with Putin are essential. “This is not a matter of desire, this is a matter of necessity,” he said. Zelenskyy added that Ukraine remains open to bilateral or trilateral formats, accusing Russia of deliberately delaying talks.

Putin, meanwhile, stated that a settlement could be possible “if common sense prevails” and noted that Trump has shown “a sincere desire” to help reach an agreement. Russian officials have yet to formally respond to Macron’s reassurance force proposal.

NATO and Security Guarantees

In a shift of U.S. policy earlier this year, Washington signaled openness to supporting security guarantees for Ukraine similar to NATO’s collective defense commitments. Zelenskyy has said Kyiv hopes for continued American intelligence sharing and air defense support as part of any post-war arrangement.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte underscored the need for a broad coalition, both to safeguard Ukraine and to strengthen Europe’s ability to deter Russian military actions elsewhere.

“We cannot be naive about Russia,” Rutte said. “Our deterrence must be strong enough that they never attempt further aggression, knowing that the response would be devastating.”

Escalation and Drone Attacks in Ukraine

While diplomatic talks continue, the war has not paused. Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched 112 strike and decoy drones overnight Thursday, with Ukrainian defenses intercepting or jamming 84.

Separately, Moscow announced the expulsion of an Estonian diplomat, a move seen as retaliation for Tallinn’s recent decision to declare a Russian envoy persona non grata.

Outlook: Balancing Diplomacy and Defense

The Paris meeting marked a significant step toward outlining Ukraine’s post-war security framework. With 26 nations committing to a reassurance force, leaders sought to send a strong signal to Moscow that international support for Ukraine will not waver, even after a ceasefire.

Still, uncertainties remain over the precise structure of U.S. involvement, the durability of European unity, and whether Russia will agree to peace talks. For now, Kyiv continues to prepare for both ongoing conflict and the complex negotiations that will shape its long-term security.

Source: AP News – Macron says 26 countries pledge troops as a reassurance force for Ukraine after war ends

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Published: July 23, 2025 – 4:50 PM PST

A new round of talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul ended with a breakthrough prisoner exchange—but offered little hope for an end to the war. Despite the release of hundreds of captured soldiers, both sides remain deeply divided over terms for a ceasefire and future peace negotiations.

Istanbul talks bring limited progress

Russian and Ukrainian negotiators met for the third time in recent months, hoping to find common ground. The talks, which lasted less than an hour, resulted in a mutual agreement to exchange 250 prisoners of war from each side along the Belarusian-Ukrainian border.

Russia’s lead negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, confirmed that a larger exchange was in the works, potentially involving over 1,200 prisoners from each side.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky celebrated the return of more than 1,000 Ukrainians, saying on Telegram:

“Bringing all our people back is a priority for the state. And we will continue all efforts to ensure that all our people return from captivity.”

Peace summit proposals dismissed

While the prisoner swap was a positive step, negotiators failed to agree on broader goals—such as a ceasefire or peace summit.

Ukraine’s top delegate, former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, proposed a summit by the end of August between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also suggested including U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to help facilitate progress.

Russia immediately rejected the idea, with Medinsky stating that such a meeting should only happen after a peace framework has been established.

On the battlefield, Ukraine continues to call for a full and unconditional ceasefire. But Moscow has only offered short, temporary halts to allow for medical evacuations—a far cry from the lasting truce Kyiv demands.

Trump’s 50-day ultimatum to Russia

Ahead of the Istanbul meeting, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a 50-day deadline for Russia to reach a peace deal—or face new economic pressure.

Trump has pledged to support tougher sanctions on Russian oil and banking and to back European allies providing military aid to Ukraine.

“My conversations with [Putin] are very pleasant… and then the missiles go off at night,” Trump said last week.

The EU is also preparing a new sanctions package that would lower the price cap on Russian oil and cut off financial institutions helping Moscow evade restrictions.

Russian casualties surpass 1 million

The war’s toll continues to rise. The UK’s Ministry of Defence now estimates that Russian casualties have exceeded 1 million since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

The grim milestone aligns with projections from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, which had expected such numbers by mid-2025.

Despite these losses, Russia has not shown signs of backing down. Putin continues to frame the war as a mission to “reunite” Russians and Ukrainians—rhetoric that Ukraine and much of the world see as a denial of Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Why it matters now

The prisoner exchange brings some relief to families, but the broader outlook remains grim. Ukraine wants a complete end to hostilities, while Russia is only offering temporary pauses.

With Trump’s 50-day warning on the clock and new sanctions looming, the coming weeks may prove decisive in shaping the future of the war.

Final thoughts

Istanbul’s limited progress shows how far apart both sides still are. While thousands of prisoners are now heading home, the prospects for peace remain uncertain.

Explore More:

• Putin’s war strategy under pressure
• Trump’s shifting Ukraine policy
• What a ceasefire could look like in 2025

Source: CNN – Russia and Ukraine agree prisoner swap, but little other progress in Istanbul talks

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a threat to target decision-making centers in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, using Russia’s new ballistic missile, the Oreshnik. This statement came just hours after Russia launched a large-scale strike on Ukraine’s energy grid overnight, which Putin described as retaliation for Ukraine’s attacks on Russian soil using U.S.-supplied Atacms missiles.

In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that any Russian attempts at “blackmail” would face a strong reply from Ukraine.

Ukraine recently used Atacms and UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles to strike inside Russia, marking the first such attacks since the invasion began in February 2022, with approval from the United States, the UK, and France.

The Russian strike was carried out over several hours, involving waves of drones and missiles hitting various locations across Ukraine. This marked the second time this month that Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has been targeted. While no casualties were reported, the attack left more than one million Ukrainians without power.

Zelensky condemned the use of cluster munitions in the attack, noting their severe risk to civilians and the challenges they present to rescue teams and repair workers. “Cluster warheads are a particularly dangerous type of weapon,” he said, adding that they significantly complicate efforts to restore vital services.

Putin confirmed that the attack involved 90 missiles and 100 drones, including the new Oreshnik ballistic missile, which he claims is “intercept-proof.” However, U.S. officials believe Russia has only a limited number of these experimental missiles and will need time to produce more.

In his nightly address, Zelensky responded to Putin’s threats, accusing the Russian president of having no interest in ending the war and attempting to force U.S. President Joe Biden to accept Russia’s terms. Zelensky also highlighted Putin’s warning that Russia would not allow Ukraine to acquire nuclear weapons, threatening to use “all means of destruction” if Ukraine ever pursued them.

This threat likely refers to recent reports suggesting that some unnamed Western officials had considered providing Ukraine with nuclear weapons, particularly before President Biden leaves office in January. Zelensky has frequently expressed frustration over the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, which saw Ukraine give up its inherited nuclear weapons from the Soviet Union in exchange for security assurances that have not been upheld.

The Russian attacks caused explosions across several Ukrainian cities, including Odesa, Kharkiv, and Lutsk. Kyiv was also targeted, but Ukrainian authorities claimed to have intercepted all missiles aimed at the capital. The attack lasted nearly 10 hours, with at least 12 regions across Ukraine, including three in the west, affected. Emergency power outages were imposed in response, with over 280,000 people in the Rivne region and 523,000 in Lviv left without electricity. In Kherson, authorities warned of power outages lasting several days.

With winter approaching, Ukrainian officials are concerned that Russia will continue its assault on the energy grid. The country has already faced bitter winters during Russia’s invasion, and the current one promises to be just as harsh. Ukraine’s energy company, DTEK, reported significant damage to its thermal plants, and this attack marks the 11th major assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since March. Over 190 attacks have been made on energy plants since the invasion began.

Despite the destruction, Ukraine has received significant support, including up to €107 million ($89 million) worth of equipment aid from the European Commission and the U.S. to help restore power. But as temperatures drop and snow begins to fall, Ukraine braces for yet another challenging winter of war.

Source

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