Phoenix 24
Europe’s next challenge is to transform political solidarity into durable security guarantees.
KYIV, UKRAINE — French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will co-chair a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in the Ukrainian capital. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will participate alongside representatives of the 34-country group, with some leaders attending remotely. The talks will reaffirm support for Ukraine as Russian attacks intensify.
The leaders are expected to advance plans for security guarantees that could protect Ukraine if a ceasefire is eventually reached. These measures may include military equipment, training and the possible deployment of allied forces in a postwar framework. European Council President António Costa is scheduled to attend in person, while NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Šekerinska will participate remotely.
The agenda will also address coordinated action against the resources financing Moscow’s war. Particular attention will be given to Russia’s “shadow fleet,” a network of oil tankers used to circumvent Western sanctions and maintain energy revenue. Many of these vessels operate through obscure ownership structures, questionable insurance arrangements and foreign flags.
The meeting coincides with the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s declaration of independence from the Soviet Union, adding political and symbolic weight to the gathering. Coalition members must now balance immediate military assistance with the longer-term architecture required to prevent another invasion. Solidarity becomes credible only when promises are strong enough to survive beyond the crisis that produced them.
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