Coalition of Willing Split Over Deployments to Ukraine; Macron Hopeful of US Support
Thirty countries from the coalition of the willing,
including European, NATO, and non-NATO allies of Ukraine, convened in Paris to finalize security guarantees for Ukraine, as reported by BBC News and Deutsche Welle. The aim of the meeting was to reassure Kyiv with security assurances, potentially with military deployments, in the event of a ceasefire. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that 26 of these nations are ready to send troops or provide other support to Ukraine. However, the specific role of the US in this arrangement remains uncertain and is expected to be decided in the coming weeks, according to The Kyiv Independent and Al Jazeera English.
Background and Context
The coalition of the willing, a group of 26 countries, confirmed their readiness to participate in the Ukrainian settlement, as reported by TASS and Ukrinform. They are prepared to guarantee Ukraine's security on land, at sea, or in the air after the cessation of hostilities. French President Macron, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were among the participants in the meeting, where discussions of the security guarantees were held.
Key Developments and Details
Despite this broad commitment, not all members of the coalition are in agreement about the nature of the support to Ukraine. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni proposed creating a collective security mechanism based on Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, eschewing direct military involvement and focusing instead on a political component of security guarantees for Ukraine, said TASS. Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported that Macron is hopeful of US support for Kyiv's security as these 26 nations pledge troops, even though Russia shows no signs of being ready to end the war.
Implications and Reactions
This meeting of the coalition has sparked a variety of responses. President Donald Trump called on European leaders to stop funding
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine and accused them of failing to pressure China, as mentioned by Fox News. Trump's exact level of support for Ukraine is still undetermined, and European leaders are urging him to reveal his plans. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also participated in the talks and had a constructive
phone call with Trump, as reported by The Guardian.
Conclusion
As the situation in Ukraine continues to evolve, the coalition of the willing remains committed to ensuring Ukraine's security in the event of peace. However, the dynamics of this support and the extent of US involvement are yet to be determined. Macron has expressed his hope that the American support
for these security guarantees
for Kyiv would be finalized in the coming days
(Le Monde). With a unified front yet to be fully formed, these developments have left the international community waiting to see how the situation will unfold.