Military chiefs in Paris to discuss Ukraine security guarantees / Photo: © AFP/File
-
Rene Eyre Revisits Autobiographical Performance 'Say A Little Prayer' in London
-
London Museum Granted 24/7 License Ahead of November Opening
-
UAE's HCT Holds Record Graduation and Announces Major Training Expansion
-
Dana White Confirms Flight to Washington for Trump Meeting on Press Secretary Role
-
NASA Awards $10B Lunar Contract Framework to SpaceX, Blue Origin
-
Dengue Fever Expands Into High Himalayas as Climate Change Warms Nepal
-
Katy Perry Tells Fans Ex-Husband Russell Brand 'Should Be in Jail' During UK Concert
-
IoT Refrigerator Hacks Disrupt Blood Labs and Supermarkets Across Europe and US
-
South African election results renew debate over identity-based voting
-
Post-election pressures complicate US and Israeli decisions on Iran
-
South African voters report smoother local election but declining IEC trust
-
UN members approve talks on treaty protocol against environmental crime
-
Dolly Parton museum and Nashville hotel open after singer’s death
-
Family-run West Sussex beach café prepares for first winter season
-
George and Amal Clooney attend New York political-comedy reading
-
CT scans reveal health and burial clues from Egypt’s Braided Lady mummy
-
British buyers pay substantial premiums for period-home appearance
-
Oxford faces complaints over lecturer’s classroom attire
-
Thomas Markle released to house arrest after child-abuse-image charge
-
Kyren Wilson and John Higgins reach International Championship snooker final
Military chiefs in Paris to discuss Ukraine security guarantees
Military chiefs from 30 European and NATO countries willing to contribute to security guarantees for Ukraine after any negotiated truce with Russia are to meet in Paris on Tuesday.
More than three years since Russia invaded neighbouring Ukraine, Europe is scrambling to boost its defences and break free from dependence on the United States.
The moves come as US President Donald Trump upends the transatlantic alliance and seeks rapprochement with Moscow.
Trump has renewed communication with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and criticised Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, raising fears in Kyiv and among European allies that the US leader may try to force Ukraine to accept a settlement favouring Russia.
Trump has also suspended military aid and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv.
Ukraine on Tuesday, in talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia, was to propose an aerial and naval ceasefire with Russia, according to a Ukrainian official.
The Paris meeting of military chiefs of staff from 30 European and NATO nations -- including the United Kingdom and Turkey -- will happen that same day, the French military has said.
President Emmanuel Macron is to address the meeting, which he has said is being held in tight coordination with NATO military command.
Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have been leading efforts to form a so-called "coalition of the willing" to enforce an eventual ceasefire in Ukraine.
Defence ministers from Europe's five main military powers -- France, Britain, Germany, Italy and Poland -- are then to meet in the French capital on Wednesday.
Those talks will centre on the "necessary rearmament of Europe" and military support to Ukraine, one of the French defence minister's aides has said.
Starmer will, in turn, host virtual talks on Saturday with leaders of the nations willing to help support the ceasefire, his office has said.
Macron last week said any European troops in Ukraine would only be deployed "once a peace deal is signed, to guarantee it is fully respected".
He has also said he would be ready to discuss extending France's nuclear deterrent to European partners.
Turkey, with NATO's second-largest army after the United States and a Black Sea shoreline, is looking to play a key role in Europe's security after Washington's pivot away from the region.
Its president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has thrown his support behind Zelensky's call for an aerial and naval truce.
R.Kloeti--VB