French President Emmanuel Macron has elaborated on potential roles for a military support force aimed at aiding Ukraine, which is a collaborative effort orchestrated by Paris and London alongside other nations. This initiative, referred to as a “coalition of the willing,” could be deployed following any ceasefire agreement with Russia.
In a discussion with French media ahead of a virtual summit organized by the U.K. on Saturday, Macron clarified that the Franco-British plan does not seek to deploy large numbers of soldiers in Ukraine. Instead, it envisions the deployment of troop contingents at strategic locations.
Macron’s office noted on Sunday that no recording was available of the president’s dialogue with journalists from regional French newspapers on Friday night. However, as reported by La Dépêche du Midi and Le Parisien, the French president talked about participating nations potentially sending several thousand troops each to “key points” within Ukraine. These troops might offer training and fortify Ukrainian defenses, underscoring long-term dedication to Kyiv’s cause, according to the reports.
Macron also mentioned that the envisioned contingents from NATO member countries would act as “a guarantee of security” for Ukraine. He noted that “several European nations, and also non-European, have expressed their willingness to join such an effort when it is confirmed,” as covered by La Dépêche.
Le Parisien further quoted Macron as stating that approval from Moscow isn’t necessary for such deployment. “Ukraine is sovereign. If it asks for Allied forces to be on its territory, it’s not up to Russia to accept or not,” he asserted.
During the two-hour virtual meeting on Saturday, Starmer confronted Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire in the conflict with Ukraine if he genuinely desires peace. He assured that allies will persist in intensifying pressure on the Kremlin by advancing peacekeeping force plans to an “operational phase.”
The call included approximately 30 leaders such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and leaders from Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, alongside officials from NATO and the European Union.
This was the second meeting of its kind in two weeks, designed to reinforce Ukraine in light of altering U.S. strategies with President Donald Trump’s return, as well as to evaluate support for any prospective peacekeeping mission. More countries partook compared to the prior meeting on March 2.
Starmer mentioned that military planners are expected to reconvene in the U.K. on Thursday to advance practical strategies for bolstering Ukraine’s future security.
