Western coalition agrees on binding security guarantees for Ukraine

PARIS -- A coalition of about 30 Western and European countries agreed Tuesday at a meeting in Paris that any future peace settlement must include robust and binding security guarantees for Ukraine.

In a joint declaration, the Coalition of the Willing said they remain committed to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with the principles of the United Nations Charter, and welcomed progress in recent talks among the United States, Ukraine and European partners.

They stressed that Ukraine's ability to defend itself is critical to its future security and to broader Euro-Atlantic stability, and confirmed that safeguarding Ukraine's sovereignty and long-term security will be an integral part of any peace agreement.

According to the declaration, the coalition stands ready to put in place a system of politically and legally binding guarantees once a ceasefire takes effect. This will include participation in a US-led ceasefire monitoring mechanism, military support for Ukraine and long-term defense cooperation.