Sawt Falasteen - Macron urges allies to plan 'credible security guarantees' for Ukraine

His appeal, in a closed-door Paris meeting of top brass from more than 30 allied states, came as Ukraine endorsed an American proposal for a month-long ceasefire and agreed to immediate negotiations with Russia, in pivotal talks in Jeddah.

Macron has sought to rally a European response to Washington's shock policy shift in US-Russia relations.

The Paris meeting gathered representatives from 34 countries -- most of them from Europe and NATO, but also from Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

There was no representative from the United States, which is the leading member of NATO.

"This is the moment when Europe must throw its full weight behind Ukraine, and itself," Macron told the meeting, according to the Elysee.

"In view of the acceleration of peace negotiations," it was necessary to start planning to "define credible security guarantees" to make a lasting peace in Ukraine a reality, the French presidency reported Macron saying.

Macron has teamed up with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to lead efforts to form a "coalition of the willing" to enforce an eventual ceasefire in Ukraine.

According to the Elysee, the military chiefs of staff from European and NATO nations -- including Britain and Turkey -- agreed that the security guarantees "should not be separated from NATO and its capabilities".

Such guarantees should be "credible and long-term, and should be accompanied by unfailing support for the Ukrainian army," according to the Elysee.

More than three years since Russia invaded its neighbour, Europe is scrambling to boost its defences and break free from dependence on the United States.

It has been unsettled by Trump renewing contacts with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and criticising Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, raising fears that the US president may try to force Ukraine to accept a settlement favouring Russia.

Trump has also suspended military aid and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv.

Ahead of the meeting, French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said: "We will reject any form of demilitarisation of Ukraine."

"It is simply a question of looking ahead and thinking about what the Ukrainian army should be in the future," Lecornu added.

- 'Rearmament of Europe' -

On Friday, the French president, who has pushed his country's defence industry to switch to "war economy mode", is set to meet with defence manufacturers, according to a member of his team.

After Tuesday's talks, defence ministers from Europe's five main military powers -- France, Britain, Germany, Italy and Poland -- are to meet in the French capital on Wednesday. EU and NATO representatives and the Ukrainian defence minister will also take part.

Those talks will centre on the "necessary rearmament of Europe" and military support to Ukraine, one of Lecornu's aides has said.

Starmer will, in turn, host virtual talks on Saturday with leaders of the nations willing to help support the ceasefire.

Macron has said any European troops in Ukraine would be deployed only "once a peace deal is signed, to guarantee it is fully respected".

He has also said he would be ready to discuss extending France's nuclear deterrent to European partners.

Last week, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a plan to mobilise around 800 billion euros ($843 billion) for Europe's defence and help provide "immediate" military support for Ukraine.

France also plans to raise defence spending, with Lecornu referring to a target of around 100 billion euros a year, compared to 50.5 billion in 2025.

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K.Hassan--SF-PST