Tue Feb 18 02:31:34 UTC 2025: ## Europe Offers Security Guarantees to Ukraine Amidst US-Russia Talks and Zelenskyy’s Ceasefire Warning

**PARIS/WASHINGTON DC** – European leaders have pledged to provide Ukraine with security guarantees following concerns over US President Donald Trump’s direct engagement with Russia on a potential Ukraine ceasefire, bypassing both Ukraine and its European allies. President Zelenskyy has warned that a fragile ceasefire without a comprehensive peace agreement would merely be a prelude to further Russian aggression.

An emergency meeting in Paris, attended by several European leaders and officials from NATO and the EU, resulted in a commitment to provide Ukraine with security guarantees, although details remain to be worked out. The move comes after President Trump excluded Ukraine and European allies from talks in Saudi Arabia between US and Russian officials.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated that Europe is “ready and willing to step up” in providing these guarantees. An EU official echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that a ceasefire without a simultaneous peace agreement would be dangerous. They stated that the European approach aligns with a “peace through strength” strategy.

President Zelenskyy, in a statement following a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, voiced his support for robust security guarantees. He stressed that a weak ceasefire would be a deceptive tactic by Russia, potentially leading to renewed conflict in Ukraine or elsewhere in Europe.

Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials are holding bilateral talks with Russia, with the Russian side explicitly stating that the negotiations are strictly between the US and Russia. This approach has sparked criticism, with experts pointing out a departure from the long-standing principle of “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.”

Al Jazeera reports that the Trump administration’s engagement with Moscow marks a significant shift from the previous Biden administration’s policy towards Ukraine, noting that the US is no longer supporting Ukraine’s reclaim of all lost territory or its NATO membership aspirations. The talks are speculated to potentially pave the way for a future meeting between President Trump and Vladimir Putin. The contrasting approaches have created tension within the transatlantic alliance, with Europe proactively seeking to reassure Ukraine amidst the evolving situation.

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