French president says not all European allies agree on a proposed force for Ukraine

PARIS (AP) — France and Britain will continue to forge ahead with plans to deploy troops in Ukraine to defend an eventual peace deal with Russia but only some other nations want to take part, French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday after a summit of countries that have been mulling the proposal.

The French leader said “several” nations other than France and Britain want to be part of the armed force but added, “It is not unanimous.” Paris and London say such a force would aim to secure any peace deal by dissuading Russia from attacking Ukraine again.

“We do not need unanimity to achieve it,” Macron said. French and British military officials will work with Ukraine to determine where the contingents should be deployed and how many troops they'd need to be a credible deterrent, the French leader added.

“There will be a reassurance force with several European nations that will deploy," he insisted.

The summit of leaders of nearly 30 countries plus NATO and European Union chiefs came at a crucial juncture in the more than three-year war, with intensifying diplomatic efforts to broker ceasefires, driven by pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump.

But fighting rages on.

Before the leaders met in the luxury of the French presidential palace, Russian drone attacks overnight wounded more than 20 people and heavy shelling Thursday afternoon killed one person and knocked out electricity in parts of Kherson, Ukrainian officials said.

Macron and other summit participants accused Russia of only pretending to want a negotiated settlement.

“They are playing games and they’re playing for time," said U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. "We can’t let them drag this out while they continue prosecuting their illegal invasion.”

U.S.-brokered agreements this week to safeguard shipping in the Black Sea and last week to halt long-range strikes on energy infrastructure were greeted as first steps toward peace. But Ukraine and Russia have disagreed over the details and accused each other of deal violations, foreshadowing a long and contentious process ahead.

One reason why some European countries are balking at a potential deployment in Ukraine is because it's unclear whether Trump would support such a contingent with air power and other military assistance.

"This will require the engagement and support of the United States,” Starmer said. “That’s a discussion we’ve had with the president on many occasions.”

Macron suggested they may have to do without U.S. backing.

“You have to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst,” he said. “My hope is that the Americans will be on our side and that the Americans will support, even play an active role."

“But we have to be prepared for a situation where perhaps they won’t join in,” he added.

Building a force big enough to act as a credible deterrent — U.K. officials have talked about possibly 10,000 to 30,000 troops — would be a considerable effort for nations that shrank their militaries after the Cold War but are now rearming.

Starmer’s office said military planners from Europe and beyond have been drilling down into details, examining “the full range of European military capabilities including aircraft, tanks, troops, intelligence and logistics.”

Greece publicly rejected sending troops. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said those discussions were “somewhat divisive” and distracted from the goal of ending the war as soon as possible.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also reiterated that Rome won’t contribute troops to a possible military force to be deployed to Ukraine. She also underlined the importance of working with the U.S. on ending the conflict and called for the participation of an American delegation in the next coordination meeting.

In the face of enduring pressure from Trump on Europe to increase military spending and rely less on U.S. forces, the proposed contingent is seen as a test of the continent's willingness to defend itself and its interests.

While the U.S. has spearheaded ceasefire talks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insisted that Europe, represented by Macron and Starmer, must also be at the negotiating table.

“We do not consider any alternative," he said. “This is our firm stance. Europe is vast, and it must have clear representation in these negotiations.”

Summit participants were more in agreement that sanctions squeezing Russia's economy must be continued, and even toughened, to force Moscow to negotiate in good faith.

“Lifting sanctions on Russia right now would be a disaster for diplomacy,” Zelenskyy said. “Sanctions are one of the few real tools the world has to pressure Russia into serious talks."

Russia has demanded that sanctions be lifted to meet its terms for the Black Sea ceasefire. The White House said it would help restore Russia’s access to the world market for fertilizer and farm exports, but it didn’t validate Moscow’s conditions. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Russia’s demands would be evaluated and presented to Trump.

Zelenskyy said: “They’re dragging out the talks and trying to get the U.S. stuck in endless, pointless discussions about fake ‘conditions’ just to buy time and then try to grab more land.”

As ceasefire efforts gather steam, Ukraine's allies in Europe are working to strengthen Kyiv's hand militarily. Their aim is to enable it to keep fighting until any broad peace takes hold and also to turn the Ukrainian army into the first line of defense against any future Russian aggression.

Macron announced a new package of defense aid for Ukraine that he said was worth 2 billion euros ($2.15 billion) and will include light tanks, air defense and anti-tank missiles and other weaponry and support.

Russian drone attacks overnight wounded at least 18 people in the Kharkiv region and three people in Dnipro, officials said. Shelling in a front-line community in the Zaporizhzhia region knocked out electricity and phone coverage, regional head Ivan Fedorov said on Telegram.

Separately, the Ukrainian Army General Staff said that its attack at Engels military airfield in Russia on March 20 had destroyed 96 air-to-air cruise missiles and significant reserves of aviation fuel.

Satellite imagery taken the next day by Maxar Technologies appeared to show damage to ammunition and weapons storage at Engels, the main base for Russia’s nuclear-capable strategic bombers.

Melley reported from London. Illia Novikov in Kyiv, Ukraine, Derek Gatopoulos in Athens, and Pan Pylas in London contributed to this report.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a press conference after the so-called "Coalition of the willing" summit, Thursday, March 27, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a press conference after the so-called "Coalition of the willing" summit, Thursday, March 27, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer attends a press conference at the UK Ambassador's Residence in Paris, after a meeting with European leaders on strengthening support for Ukraine in Paris, Thursday, March 27, 2025. (Stephanie Lecocq/Pool Photo via AP)

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni departs after a summit on Ukraine at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Thursday, March 27, 2025 . (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, center left, and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, center right, depart a summit on Ukraine at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Thursday, March 27, 2025 . (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech after the so-called Coalition of the willing summit at the Elysee Palace, Thursday, March 27, 2025 in Paris. (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech after the so-called Coalition of the willing summit at the Elysee Palace, Thursday, March 27, 2025 in Paris. (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP)

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, left, and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speak to the media at the UK Ambassador's Residence after a meeting with European leaders on strengthening support for Ukraine, in Paris, Thursday, March 27, 2025, on the sidelines of a summit for "coalition of the willing". (Stephanie Lecocq/Pool Photo via AP)

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, right, and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet at the UK Ambassador's Residence after a meeting with European leaders on strengthening support for Ukraine, in Paris, Thursday, March 27, 2025, on the sidelines of a summit for "coalition of the willing". (Stephanie Lecocq/Pool Photo via AP)

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks to the media at the UK Ambassador's Residence after a meeting with European leaders on strengthening support for Ukraine, in Paris, Thursday, March 27, 2025, on the sidelines of a summit for "coalition of the willing". (Stephanie Lecocq/Pool Photo via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, waits for the arrival of leaders during a summit on Ukraine at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Thursday, March 27, 2025 . (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

French President Emmanuel Macron, center, speaks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during arrivals for a summit on Ukraine at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Thursday, March 27, 2025 . (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, French President Emmanuel Macron, center, and Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speak during a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of a summit for "coalition of the willing" at the Elysee Palace, Thursday, March 27, 2025. (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron, center, greets Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer during arrivals for a summit on Ukraine at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Thursday, March 27, 2025 . (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, French President Emmanuel Macron and Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speak during a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of a summit for "coalition of the willing" at the Elysee Palace, Thursday, March 27, 2025. (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, greets Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer during arrivals for a summit on Ukraine at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Thursday, March 27, 2025 . (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

French President Emmanuel Macron, center left, walks with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, center right, during arrivals for a summit on Ukraine at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Thursday, March 27, 2025 . (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

French President Emmanuel Macron, center left, walks with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, center right, during arrivals for a summit on Ukraine at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Thursday, March 27, 2025 . (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, greets Latvia's Prime Minister Evika Silina during arrivals for a summit on Ukraine at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Thursday, March 27, 2025 . (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speak during a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of a summit for "coalition of the willing" at the Elysee Palace, Thursday, March 27, 2025. (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron, second left, greets Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during arrivals for a summit on Ukraine at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Thursday, March 27, 2025 . (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

PHOENIX (AP) — Jalen Green scored 33 points for Houston, and Phoenix star Kevin Durant left with a leg injury in the Rockets' 148-109 romp over the Suns on Sunday night.

Durant fell to the floor with 6:57 left in the third quarter after he stepped on Rockets Jabari Smith Jr.‘s foot. Durant got to his feet, but could not put weight on his left leg. The Suns later said it was an ankle injury.

Durant finished with 11 points in 23 minutes, but the Rockets were already well ahead, having taken a 78-49 lead at halftime. Houston (49-26) has won 12 of its last 13 and is second in the Western Conference standings, two games ahead of Denver.

Alperen Sengun had 16 points and nine rebounds and rookie Amen Thompson had 12 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists for the Rockets. Neither played in the fourth quarter as Houston led by 42 points.

Devin Booker scored 28 points for the Suns, who fell two games behind Dallas for the final play-in spot in the West with six games remaining. It was Phoenix’s third loss in a row.

Rockets forward Dillon Brooks was ejected i n the second quarter after a brief shoving match with Durant. He was assessed two technical fouls while Durant and Nick Richards each received one.

Rockets: The Rockets are 12-4 in March with a game remaining.

Suns: Own the tiebreaker against the Mavericks based on winning the season series from Dallas. But with or without Durant, five of their last six games are against playoff teams.

After Brooks’ ejection, Houston outscored Phoenix 23-11 the rest of the half to lead by 29 at the break.

Phoenix committed 19 turnovers leading to 34 Houston points.

The Rockets are at the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night. The Suns are at Milwaukee on Tuesday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer, center, talks with Suns center Nick Richards (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka argues with officials during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Suns guard Tyus Jones, right, is fouled by Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka argues with officials during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) gets hit in the face by Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) is stopped from getting to the basket by Houston Rockets center Steven Adams, left, Rockets guard Jalen Green, second from left, and Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) drives past Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) as Suns guard Collin Gillespie looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Suns guard Tyus Jones, right, is fouled by Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)