Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday hailed "tangible progress" after meeting British and French military chiefs in Kyiv to discuss strengthening the Ukrainian army and ways to support the war-torn country after any end of hostilities with Russia.
On Friday, the chief of staff of France's armed forces Thierry Burkhard and British Chief of the Defence Staff Tony Radakin held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov.
French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are spearheading European efforts to send a "reassurance force" to Ukraine after any end to the war sparked by Russia's invasion in 2022.
Zelensky took to social media on Saturday to thank the two countries "for their leadership", saying "it is this kind of joint work, when everyone is focused on a strong result, that helps to bring a reliable and lasting peace to Ukraine."
"There is tangible progress and the first details on how the security contingent of partners can be deployed," he said.
France and Britain to lead mission to support a future Ukrainian peace deal
Earlier, Zelensky said that the discussions would evoke "presence on the ground, in the sky and at sea. We are also discussing air defence. And some other sensitive things," without elaborating.
The visit to Kyiv by the French and British military chiefs came on the same day that a Russian ballistic missile strike on Zelensky's home city of Kryvyi Rig killed at least 18 people, among them nine children, authorities said.
Ukraine has said the strike is proof Russia does not want a ceasefire, which the United States is attempting to bring about.
Weekly defence meetings
"We will be meeting at the level of our military every week. Our partners already have a lot of understanding of what Ukraine needs," he added.
Burkhard said on Saturday they had discussed "reassurance options" to be provided by an international coalition.
"Together, we want to guarantee a lasting and solid peace in Ukraine, an essential condition for the security of the European continent," he said on X.
The goal of the joint trip was to "maintain determined support" for the Ukrainian army which would allow it to continue to fight against Russian forces, he added.
Another goal was to "define a long-term strategy for the reconstruction and transformation of the army," he added.
Military chiefs gather in UK to discuss Ukraine peacekeeping force
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that President Donald Trump was not "going to fall into the trap of endless negotiations" with Russia over Ukraine, adding it would soon be clear if Moscow was serious about peace.
Rubio was in Brussels for talks with NATO allies, most of whom have nervously eyed the US president's outreach to the Kremlin to press for a deal to end the Ukraine war.
While Trump has pressed for a thaw in ties with Moscow, he has also voiced anger at the slow pace of negotiations to reach a ceasefire.
Russian President Vladimir Putin last month rejected a US-Ukrainian proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire, and has made a US-proposed truce in the Black Sea dependent on the West lifting some sanctions.
(with AFP)
