European leaders met in Paris on Monday to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with a focus on security guarantees for the country. They warned, however, that concluding a ceasefire without a simultaneous peace agreement would be dangerous for long-term stability.

The meeting, which was called by French President Emmanuel Macron, brought together key European leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, among others. Also present were NATO boss Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Antonio Costa.

A European Union official stated that the leaders were prepared to offer security guarantees to Ukraine, though the specifics would depend on the level of support from the United States. The EU officials emphasized that peace should be achieved through strength, a stance that aligns with President Trump’s recent remarks about peace talks with Russia.

However, they expressed concerns about the potential consequences of a ceasefire agreement without a clear, binding peace deal in place. The leaders unanimously agreed that such an arrangement could create long-term instability and fail to secure lasting peace for the region.

This meeting took place ahead of the US-Russia peace talks in Saudi Arabia, which have raised concerns in Europe and Ukraine due to the exclusion of both parties from the discussions. The absence of European allies and Ukraine in these negotiations has sparked intense debate about the future of the conflict and the role of international actors in the peace process.