UK, allies pledge backing for Ukraine ahead of Paris peace summit

Britain and its allies are preparing to support Ukraine both in the run-up to negotiations to end the war and in securing a lasting peace, UK Defence Secretary John Healey said on Wednesday.

Speaking to the BBC in Kyiv ahead of a high-level summit in Paris, Healey pledged that Ukraine’s partners would “help make the skies safe, to make the seas safe, and to secure the land” once a peace deal had been reached.

Around 30 world leaders are due to attend Thursday’s meeting, either in person or virtually.

French diplomats have indicated that “technical work” on security guarantees for Ukraine is complete should a ceasefire take hold.

French President Emmanuel Macron stressed that the key question now is “the sincerity of Russia.”

On the eve of the summit, President Vladimir Putin, speaking from China, struck a defiant tone, declaring that Moscow’s full-scale invasion could continue. However, Healey dismissed the Russian leader’s words as bluster, insisting that Russia was under mounting pressure.

The Paris gathering is expected to focus on laying the groundwork for potential peace talks and ensuring Ukraine has credible security assurances against future aggression.