Zelensky: No "Clear Answer" from West on Future Defense Pledges

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his European allies have not given him a definite promise to defend Ukraine if Russia attacks again after any future peace deal. This comes just days after the US and European leaders announced key security guarantees for Kyiv. These included plans for a multinational force to deploy after a ceasefire. "I haven’t received a clear, unequivocal answer," Zelenskyy stated on Wednesday. He said that while there is political will, he needs legal guarantees backed by parliaments and the US Congress. Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said British MPs would vote on the final number of troops sent to Ukraine if a peace deal is reached. The troops would conduct deterrent operations and protect military hubs. A Conservative MP warned that putting "boots on the ground" could be a "red line" for Russian President Vladimir Putin, potentially harming peace talks. On the ground, Russian strikes knocked out power almost entirely in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions late Wednesday. Another attack on two Black Sea ports killed one person and injured eight. Despite the war, Ukraine's foreign currency reserves hit a record $57.3 billion in January due to foreign support. Military spending has soared from $7 billion in 2021 to over $70 billion last year.