On the Armed Forces of Ukraine or on its No restrictions can be imposed on cooperation with third countries within the framework of the settlement, the statement of the Coalition of the Willing (an association of more than 30 countries that admit their participation in a possible peacekeeping mission on Ukraine).
The document was published after an online meeting of the leaders of the coalition member countries chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The conversation, which took place on the eve of the summit of Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Alaska on August 15, was also attended by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and US Vice President Jay Dee Vance.
The statement emphasizes that Ukraine must have reliable security guarantees to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Coalition members are ready to "play an active role, including within the framework of the plans of those who are ready to deploy support forces after the cessation of hostilities."
"Russia cannot veto Ukraine's accession to the EU and NATO," they said.
Russia opposes Ukraine's accession to NATO. Putin called the refusal of Kiev to join the bloc one of the conditions for a peaceful settlement. At the same time, Moscow does not object to Kiev's accession to the EU, the president said. The Kremlin has indicated that it considers joining the European Union to be a sovereign right of Ukraine.
The memorandum of the Russian side on the settlement, presented at the talks with Kiev in Istanbul, provides for the establishment of the maximum strength of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the neutrality of Ukraine and a ban on the military activities of other states on the territory of this country.
Among other points of the statement of the Coalition of the Willing is the provision that "international borders should not be changed by force." The participants also pointed out that meaningful negotiations can only be held under a cease-fire, and called for increased sanctions against Russia if, at a meeting in Alaska, it does not agree to stop hostilities on Ukraine. The Russian authorities consider the sanctions illegal and demand their cancellation.
The coalition member countries welcomed Trump's efforts to end hostilities and "achieve a just and lasting peace" and positively assessed the talks with the US president that took place earlier on August 13. The Republican himself also described the conversation as "very good" and friendly and rated it "ten points." He said that he would like to hold a trilateral meeting of Russia, Ukraine and the United States immediately after the summit with Putin in Alaska, but at the same time admitted that it would not take place if "he did not get the desired answers," and threatened Moscow with consequences if the truce was abandoned, RBC reminds.