Europe is ready to offer security guarantees to Ukraine once a peace agreement is signed to end the war triggered by Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

This was stated by French President Emmanuel Macron at a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, AFP reported.

"We Europeans are ready to offer security guarantees to Ukraine and Ukrainians on the day the peace agreement is signed," Macron said before hosting a meeting of European leaders on September 4.

He explained that the details of the guarantees were "extremely confidential," but that preparations had been finalized at a meeting of defense ministers.

"We are ready for stable and lasting peace for Ukraine and Europeans. The question now is to understand Russia's sincerity," the French president said.

Macron has repeatedly expressed skepticism about Russian leader Vladimir Putin's claims to US President Donald Trump that Moscow wants peace.

Zelensky said he sees no signs that Russia wants to end the war.

European leaders are silent on the nature of the guarantees, which are expected to include the deployment of European troops in Ukraine, the training of the European army, and " backstop" support from the US. | BGNES