In response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, European leaders have expressed their readiness to take a leading role in providing security guarantees for the country. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Europe was ready and willing to actively engage in this process, stressing the need for concrete action and investment in the region’s security.

The statement came after an emergency meeting on Ukraine hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. The summit was attended by leaders of eight European countries, as well as the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission. The main focus was on discussing possible security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe's role in this process.

Rutte stressed that European countries must come up with concrete ideas to achieve sustainable peace in Ukraine and ensure its security. He noted that Europe is ready to significantly increase investment in defense, including military training, speeding up aid and arms supplies. The details of these commitments are yet to be determined, but the determination of European leaders is already evident.

Earlier, at the Munich Security Conference, Rutte called on European countries to put forward concrete initiatives and ideas for peace and security guarantees for Ukraine. He stressed that European NATO members should focus on planning and defining their own contribution to defense initiatives to ensure that Ukraine has the best possible position during peace talks.

The moves come as European officials worry that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could be pressured to reach a deal that could be unfavorable to Ukraine. The Trump administration has signaled a desire to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine by Easter, raising concerns that Ukraine could make concessions in the talks.

In response to these challenges, European leaders are seeking to develop their own plan to provide military support and security guarantees to Ukraine. The possibilities of increasing the military training of Ukrainian forces, accelerating arms deliveries, and even the possible deployment of peacekeeping troops in Ukraine within the framework of the agreements reached are being discussed.

In addition, the possibility of using frozen Russian assets worth $300 billion as a potential source of funding to support Ukraine is being considered.