"From verbal support to concrete commitments," a group known as the "Coalition of the Willing" has transitioned.
In a significant development, leaders from over 30 countries, collectively known as the 'coalition of the willing', met in Paris on September 4 to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine. The meeting, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, was aimed at finding a solution to the ongoing conflict in the Eastern European nation.
The question of sending troops to Ukraine has been a contentious issue, dividing Berlin and Brussels. However, the enthusiasm for these guarantees among Europeans seemed to wane due to U.S. President Donald Trump's reluctance to participate. During his meetings with European leaders in August, Trump did not make any direct commitments regarding the provision of such guarantees.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Macron have been vocal advocates for sending a large military contingent to Ukrainian territory as a security guarantee. Macron announced that the armed forces of 26 countries would be prepared to deploy to Ukraine after a ceasefire or peace. His statements indicate a potential escalation in diplomatic efforts to address the security situation in Ukraine.
The U.S. is expected to have further discussions with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen within the next 24 hours regarding economic sanctions against Russia. Trump remained evasive about the question of security guarantees for Ukraine from the U.S., but Macron stated that the U.S. has expressed its readiness to participate in these guarantees, with the issue expected to become clearer in the coming days.
The idea of providing security guarantees to Ukraine was first proposed in mid-February. The meeting on September 4 included leaders from more than 30 countries, including the Prime Ministers of Australia and Canada, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Stephen Whitkoff, President Biden's special envoy, represented the U.S. in the meeting.
Macron announced a series of future summits, including a bilateral summit between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, and a trilateral summit involving the U.S. The next phase will involve the U.S. contacting Russia to discuss security plans for Ukraine, according to Macron.
Donald Trump suggested that European allies should stop purchasing Russian oil and increase economic pressure on China for supporting Russia's military actions in Ukraine. Finnish President Alexander Stubb confirmed Trump's stance on economic sanctions against Russia.
A quadrilateral summit involving Europe is also anticipated in the future. The role of the U.S. in these security guarantees remains unclear, with Trump's evasive stance creating uncertainty. However, the meeting in Paris marks a significant step towards international cooperation in addressing the security crisis in Ukraine.
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