PARIS—Military chiefs from 30 European and NATO countries willing to contribute to security guarantees for Ukraine after any negotiated truce with Russia are to meet in Paris on Tuesday.
More than three years since Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine, Europe is scrambling to boost its defenses and break free from dependence on the United States.
The moves come as US President Donald Trump upends the transatlantic alliance and seeks rapprochement with Moscow.
Trump has renewed communication with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and criticized Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, raising fears in Kyiv and among European allies the US leader may try to force Ukraine to accept a settlement favoring Russia.
Trump has also suspended military aid and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv.
Ukraine on Tuesday, in talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia, was to propose an aerial and naval ceasefire with Russia, according to a Ukrainian official.
The Paris meeting of military chiefs of staff from 30 European and NATO nations — including the United Kingdom and Turkey — will happen that same day, the French military has said.
President Emmanuel Macron is to address the meeting, which he has said is being held in tight coordination with NATO military command. Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have been leading efforts to form a so-called “coalition of the willing” to enforce an eventual ceasefire in Ukraine.