The Kremlin declared on Friday that Ukraine’s security “definitely” cannot be provided by foreign military contingents, drawing a sharp line against a Western-backed initiative unveiled in Paris. Just a day earlier, 26 nations had pledged to support post-war security guarantees for Kyiv, potentially involving international troops, naval patrols, and air forces once the fighting ends.

Moscow’s Red Lines

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Russia’s state news agency that, “Can Ukraine’s security guarantees be ensured and provided by foreign, especially European and American, military contingents? Definitely not, they cannot.” He added that such a scheme “cannot serve as a security guarantee for Ukraine that would be acceptable to our country.”

Peskov also dismissed the prospect of imminent high-level talks with Kyiv, stressing that “before meeting at a high or top level, a huge amount of work needs to be carried out.”

Paris Pledges, Open Questions

At a summit in Paris, leaders from 26 nations committed to providing Ukraine with long-term security guarantees aimed at deterring future aggression. The plans could include an international presence on land, at sea and in the air once hostilities end. Yet the scope of contributions—who would provide troops, and under what conditions—remains unsettled.

The Istanbul Template Resurfaces

Peskov said Ukraine’s “needed security guarantees” were already contained in the agreements drafted at the 2022 Istanbul talks. That framework proposed that Ukraine abandon NATO membership ambitions, adopt a neutral and non-nuclear status, and in return receive security assurances from the U.S., Russia, China, Britain and France. While never finalized, Moscow continues to cite the draft as a viable model.

Shifting U.S. Role And European Calculus

While European capitals push ahead with the guarantees, questions persist over Washington’s future role. Lithuanian officials say the U.S. has informed European partners that parts of its support package may be scaled back, prompting consultations over what commitments can be sustained. European policymakers are considering how to ensure credibility if American backing becomes less certain.