Overview

• After a Paris meeting, about 26 countries plus the EU backed a plan for air, land and maritime defenses and a post‑ceasefire reassurance force that Zelensky said could number in the thousands.
• Putin warned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be treated as legitimate targets and dismissed Western contingents as part of security guarantees.
• Zelensky pressed for the guarantees to begin immediately without waiting for the end of fighting, framing rapid activation as essential for deterrence.
• Washington signaled support through air power and intelligence but ruled out U.S. ground forces, as Italy and Poland said they will not send soldiers and Germany remained cautious.
• EU officials advanced a 19th sanctions package and a phased plan to wind down Russian energy imports through 2027, while Zelensky told Putin to meet in Kyiv as Russia continued strikes and Ukraine hit energy infrastructure inside Russia.