NATO defense chiefs weigh Ukraine security guarantees virtually

NATO defense chiefs gathered in a high-level, virtual session on Wednesday to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a broader diplomatic push to end Russia’s war. The meeting, convened by the chair of the alliance’s Military Committee, brought together all 32 allied chiefs of defense, with key U.S. and European generals participating from Washington and Brussels. The discussions focused on what concrete commitments NATO could offer Kyiv to deter future aggression, including the potential creation of a multinational security force or other guarantees that would stand alongside Ukrainian military support.

The session followed a sequence of preparatory talks and public signaling from Washington and European capitals about the shape of postwar security for Ukraine. In Washington, a smaller group of defense chiefs from several major allies had already met to coordinate ideas, and U.S. military leaders pledged to keep pace with evolving conditions on the ground and in diplomacy. On Wednesday, NATO’s defense leadership in Brussels took up the question of credibility and enforceability of any security guarantees, weighing battlefield realities against the risk of provoking...