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The meeting will take place without the United States.
Military representatives from more than 30 countries will gather in Paris to discuss the creation of an international security force for Ukraine, an initiative jointly developed by France and Britain aimed at deterring Russia from launching a new offensive after a possible ceasefire.
This was reported to the Associated Press by a senior French army official on condition of anonymity.
The proposed force could include heavy weapons and strategic supplies that could be quickly deployed to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire violation by Russia. The plan is aimed at strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities and ensuring its stability, a French military official said.
The talks will take place in two stages. First, France and the United Kingdom will present the concept of the international security force to military representatives of the invited countries. In the second stage, the participants will discuss specific possibilities for their contribution to the initiative.
Representatives from almost all 32 NATO member states are expected to join the discussion, with the exception of the United States. The official said the United States was not invited because European countries are seeking to demonstrate their ability to independently shape a security structure for Ukraine.
In addition, representatives of Ireland, Cyprus and Austria, which are not members of NATO but are members of the European Union, will participate in the meeting. Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea will follow the negotiations remotely. The Ukrainian side will be represented by a military official who is also a member of the National Security and Defense Council.
