Macron and Starmer to lead Paris talks on 'Coalition of the Willing'
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French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will co-chair a Paris meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing” on September 4, with Volodymyr Zelensky in attendance.
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks as France's President Emmanuel Macron listens during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in foreground, President Donald Trump and European leaders in the East Room of the White House, Monday, Aug 18, 2025, in Washington. (AP/Alex Brandon)
French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer are set to co-chair a summit of the “Coalition of the Willing” in Paris on September 4, according to Le Monde, citing the Elysee Palace.
The session will take place in a hybrid format, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expected to join discussions. The agenda will focus on advancing a framework of security guarantees for Ukraine, reflecting weeks of diplomatic activity among European partners.
The Paris gathering follows a series of high-profile talks in mid-August. On August 15, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with US President Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska. The summit, lasting over three hours, did not produce a ceasefire but was portrayed by both sides as a step toward peace.
Three days later, Trump hosted Zelensky alongside several European leaders in Washington. Following those discussions, the US president announced that France, Germany, and the United Kingdom were prepared to deploy troops to Ukraine as part of a European-led mission. Trump reaffirmed, however, that no US forces would be stationed on Ukrainian soil during his presidency.
The 'Coalition of the Willing' and its mission
The “Coalition of the Willing,” formally launched in March 2025, brings together around 31 countries, mainly European states, along with allies such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Co-led by France and the UK, the group seeks to create a multinational peacekeeping force to operate in Ukraine once a ceasefire agreement is secured with Russia.
The envisioned security framework mirrors NATO’s Article 5, offering Ukraine collective defense assurances without granting full NATO membership. The coalition has already finalized command structures, alternating leadership between Paris and London.
Its planned mission would include air defense, maritime security in the Black Sea, military training for Ukrainian forces, and a limited ground presence focused on logistics.
Russia’s opposition to NATO troops in Ukraine
Moscow has consistently rejected any Western military presence in Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that the deployment of NATO forces, whether under the coalition’s banner or as peacekeepers, constitutes a direct threat to Russia and would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
President Putin has also demanded that NATO revoke its 2008 pledge to admit Ukraine as a future member, insisting instead on Ukraine’s permanent neutrality and non-nuclear status.
