Macron says 26 countries ready to send troops for Ukraine ceasefire

Starting in Europe, French President Emmanuel Macron said 26 nations pledged to deploy a "reassurance force" to Ukraine, immediately after a ceasefire agreement is reached.

According to Macron, following the "Coalition of the Willing" meeting in Paris on Thursday, 26 countries have committed to providing security guarantees for Ukraine.

These forces are intended to deter future Russian aggression, not engage in combat, and will be deployed the day after a ceasefire or peace deal takes effect.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, alongside U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, participated in the summit.

While continued American support was discussed, the U.S. has not yet pledged ground troops.

Macron also said U.S. support for Ukraine's security guarantees will be finalized in the coming days, following a call with President Donald Trump.

Though some EU countries, including Italy, have ruled out sending troops, others, such as Germany, are weighing participation and may support Ukraine through training and equipment.