Speaking after Kyiv’s allies met in Paris, Emmanuel Macron said “US support” for security guarantees in Ukraine will be finalised in the coming days. Meanwhile, Dmitry Medvedev warns Russia could seize UK assets in retaliation for supporting Ukraine. Listen to The World as you scroll.
Thursday 4 September 2025 17:34, UK
Jim Townsend served as Barack Obama’s former deputy assistant secretary of defence for European NATO policy at the Pentagon.
Speaking to presenter Jayne Secker, he outlined two top officials Trump listens to on Ukraine, and explained why progress on ending the war might be moving so slowly.
Watch his remarks below…
We’ve just had a brief statement from the EU Commission’s president.
Ursula von der Leyen has said Ukraine must become a steel porcupine, indigestible to any aggressors.
“That means standing armed forces that are strong, well-equipped and modern,” she added.
“Our defence industries are accelerating cooperation to make this happen.”
European leaders held a call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their summit in Paris.
Over the weekend, he was in Beijing for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit as a guest of Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
Ahead of the trip to China, he spoke to Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian leader said Modi was going to carry a message to Vladimir Putin, who was also at the summit, for him.
“India has an important role to play in bringing Russia to end its war of aggression and helping create a path towards peace,” EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a post on social media.
She also shared the following image of her and European Council President Antonio Costa talking to Modi on the phone.
After their meeting in Paris today, Ukraine and its Western allies briefed Donald Trump on the discussions, according to a German government spokesperson.
They added that Europe hopes Washington will continue to contribute significantly to efforts to support Ukraine.
The spokesperson also reiterated Europe’s willingness to contribute to security guarantees.
“The Europeans are prepared to make a decisive contribution to strong security guarantees for Ukraine following a negotiated solution. Germany will play its part,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
“The focus should be on financing, arming and training the Ukrainian armed forces.”
NATO chief Mark Rutte has warned against naievty when it comes to dealing with Russia and Vladimir Putin.
Speaking alongside Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, he said: “To everybody watching this, please, men and women, citizens of the Czech Republic and all over Europe, Canada and the US, let’s not be naive about Russia.
“We know what Putin tries to do, and the evidence is there in Ukraine as we speak.”
He made the comments shortly after joining, via videolink, a meeting of the coalition of the willing in Paris.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy tells reporters at a news conference that European weapons production lines should be working at full capacity.
Speaking alongside Emmanuel Macron, he says he discussed pressure on Russia during a call with Trump.
Everyone agrees Russia is rejecting the peace initiative, he says.
He says that a strong Ukrainian army is central to any post-war security guarantees.
Strengthening air defences is also being discussed as part of security guarantees, he says.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Emmanuel Macron are holding a news conference.
Macron is speaking first, saying 26 countries are committed to taking part in a reassurance force in Ukraine, be it via land sea or air, after the war.
US support for security guarantees will be finalised in the coming days, he says.
“We held a call with President Trump… the conclusions of this call are simple: in the coming days, we will finalise US support and these security guarantees,” he says.
“The United States, as I said, has been involved in every stage of the process.”
Ukraine will also coordinate sanctions against Russia with the US, he says, which will take effect if Moscow continues to reject peace talks.
Today’s meeting in Paris is the eighth that the so-called coalition of the willing has held since 2 March, our defence analyst Michael Clarke has pointed out.
It is this, he warned, which contributes to the group’s nickname of the “coalition of the waiting”.
However, despite this, Clarke said he thinks the group is reaching an important crossroads in its attempts to end the war in Ukraine.
Watch his full analysis here…
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked his Western allies, singling out Donald Trump, after the summit in Paris today.
The meeting of the so-called coalition of the willing saw them discuss specifics on security guarantees and “the readiness of each country to contribute”, the Ukrainian leader said.
He also met with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff.
In a statement after the meeting with European leaders, Zelenskyy said: “We have the same vision that Russia is doing everything possible to drag out the negotiation process and continue the war.”
He added: “I would especially like to thank President Trump for all his efforts to end this war and America’s readiness to provide support for Ukraine from its side.”
Notably, in February, Trump berated Zelenskyy in front of the world’s media in the Oval Office for what the US leader described as a lack of gratitude.
Zelenskyy also said the 19th package of EU sanctions on Russia is being prepared. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen previously said it is expected this month.
A former UK ambassador has called into question the willingness of Ukraine’s allies to actually take action to help Kyiv.
Ian Bond, deputy director of the Centre for European Reform and former British ambassador to Latvia, speaking to presenter Gareth Barlow, said the coalition of the willing “has been very willing to talk, it’s not been so willing to act”.
Watch his full interview below…
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