NATO chief: Europe ready to step up to lead Ukraine security guarantees

Feb 18, 2025 - 13:00
NATO chief: Europe ready to step up to lead Ukraine security guarantees

nato chief europe ready step up lead ukraine security guarantees leaders eu several european countries during meetin paris 17 2025 secretary general mark rutte announced europe's readiness providing following emergency

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced Europe’s readiness to lead in providing security guarantees for Ukraine following an emergency summit in Paris on 17 February 2025.

The Paris meeting was held amid growing concerns in several EU countries over recent statements and actions by Donald Trump’s administration during the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war. Fears centered on the possibility that Trump might exclude the EU from Ukraine negotiations while still expecting European nations to fund Ukraine’s reconstruction and deploy peacekeepers.

Rutte published a photo of the summit’s participants on X, saying:

Ready and willing. That’s my take from today’s meeting in Paris. Europe is ready and willing to step up. To lead in providing security guarantees for Ukraine. Ready and willing to invest a lot more in our security.

The NATO chief added:

The details will need to be decided but the commitment is clear.”

As Trump’s administration planned direct talks of the US and Russia’s top diplomats in Saudi Arabia for 18 February, French President Emmanuel Macron convened the meeting of European leaders a day before, which Rutte also attended. The leaders discussed potential European participation in a peace settlement to end Russia’s war against Ukraine, including providing Ukraine with security guarantees.

Earlier, the United States had requested information from EU countries regarding what specific contributions each could make.

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