Europe’s security is at a turning point. The balance of our world is being redefined to an extent not seen for many decades. We, the Ministers of Defence of France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom gathered in Paris today, assert that peace in Ukraine and the defense of Europe are the most urgent necessities of our time. We recognize that our security is not separate, but shared, and that our ultimate strength relies on our unwavering commitment to one another.

Today, we were joined by Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Defence Serhii Boiev (via videoconference), European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius, Deputy Secretary General Charles Fries of the European External Action Service, and NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska.

Following up on our previous meetings in Berlin on 25 November 2024 and Helenów on 13 January 2025, as well as in Brussels on 13 February 2025, we discussed support to Ukraine and the need to guarantee stronger European capabilities to ensure European security and defence, in the spirit of fair transatlantic burden-sharing.

We agreed that a strong, independent and democratic Ukraine is vital for the security and stability of the Euro-Atlantic area, and that it deserves a just peace and a secure future. In this regard, we welcome the progress made during the discussions between the United States of America and Ukraine held in Jeddah on 11 March, particularly regarding the idea of a 30-day ceasefire. The ball is now clearly in Russia’s court.

We were also briefed by Commissioner Kubilius on progress towards a European ambition on strengthening European Defence, including recent proposals on funding by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the upcoming White Paper.

Reaffirming our Joint Statement adopted at Helenów on 13 January 2025, we further decided to:

1. Step up European support for peace in Ukraine

• Continue to support Ukraine to defend itself today and deter Russian aggression in the future;
• Make rapid progress on defence industrial cooperation ventures with Ukraine, including design, development, production, common acquisition, and sustainment;
• Maintain leadership in the capability coalitions that remain an important forum for capacity building and modernisation of Ukraine’s Armed Forces;
• Advocate for a continuous role of the United States in support of Ukraine, altogether with a significant contribution of Europe, coordinated via the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, in order to foster interoperability, promote unity of effort and avoid duplication;
• Strengthen the role of European Allies and NATO in fulfilling urgent Ukrainian requirements by coordinating increased support through the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU), in close coordination with the EU Military Assistance Mission (EUMAM);

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