French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu said Europe will not accept Russia’s call for the demilitarisation of Ukraine, calling the proposal an “absolute red line” in an interview published on 9 July by Valeurs Actuelles. Lecornu argued that, in the absence of NATO membership, a robust Ukrainian army is the country’s only viable security guarantee and a prerequisite for regional stability. The comments come as Moscow continues to link a pull-back of its forces to Kyiv giving up most of its military capability. Lecornu warned that disarming Ukraine while denying it NATO entry would leave both Ukraine and its neighbours exposed, undermining European security interests. Lecornu’s remarks set the tone for a fresh session of the so-called “coalition of volunteers,” a group of about 30 nations led by France and the United Kingdom that reconvenes on 10 July in Rome to shape long-term security assurances and a potential post-war force to police any future armistice.