Ukraine’s security guarantees: What are they and why might they fall short?

Al JazeeraCenterEN 4 min read 100% complete by Nils AdlerJanuary 26, 2026 at 09:05 AM

AI Summary

long article 4 min

In early January 2026, over 30 Western countries met in Paris to outline security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia. The proposed framework includes a US-led ceasefire monitoring mechanism and potential deployment of multinational forces led by France and the UK. While leaders like Macron and Starmer touted the guarantees as "robust," others, like Germany, expressed caution. President Zelenskyy stated Ukraine is ready to send the agreement to the US Congress and Ukrainian Parliament for ratification, emphasizing the importance of US security guarantees. However, the document remains unpublished, and details on enforcement are unclear. Some Ukrainians, including former officials, express skepticism, fearing the guarantees may lack practical tools for ensuring security.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Lithuania 30% Keir Starmer 40% Paris 40% Friedrich Merz 40% Emmanuel Macron 50% UK 50% France ×360% Volodymyr Zelenskyy ×260% United States ×270% Kyiv 70% Russia ×280% Ukraine ×790%

Keywords

security guarantees 100% ukraine 90% ceasefire 80% russia 70% military hubs 60% defence 60% coalition of the willing 50% aggression 50% us congress 40% multinational forces 40%