President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced that Ukraine will host a meeting of the leaders from the “coalition of the willing” this Saturday. This coalition, led by France and Britain, was formed earlier this year in response to growing concerns that the United States may be stepping back as a steadfast supporter of Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.
Zelenskiy emphasized the necessity for this coalition to be robust enough to ensure security in alignment with a shared vision. “We need this coalition, and it should be strong enough to guarantee security in line with our common vision,” he stated in a video message from Kyiv.
As discussions continue regarding Europe’s role in providing security guarantees after the war, challenges remain. The potential for a ceasefire appears remote, hinging heavily on Russia’s actions and the level of support the U.S. offers to its allies.
Ukraine is actively pursuing explicit security assurances from its partners to defend against any potential military threats from Russia in the future. The coalition is exploring the option of deploying a limited foreign contingent to Ukraine as part of these guarantees.
In a call with U.S. President Donald Trump, Zelenskiy mentioned that a proposed 30-day ceasefire could serve as a “real indicator” of progress toward peace with Russia, indicating Ukraine’s readiness to initiate such a ceasefire immediately.
This ceasefire proposal was first suggested by Trump in March, and although Ukraine expressed its support, Russia indicated that any effective ceasefire would require reliable monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.
While Zelenskiy did not disclose which leaders would attend the Kyiv meeting, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had previously announced his intention to visit Ukraine soon. Additionally, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that France would participate in the Saturday meeting, which is set to be conducted both virtually and in-person.
