UK to hold 'coalition of the willing' meeting in support of Ukraine. What to expect from it

The discussions will focus on ensuring Ukraine's sustainability, increasing pressure on Russia and future security guarantees, Politico reported.

On Thursday, the UK will host a meeting of the so-called "coalition of the willing" - an informal alliance of Western countries united by a desire to support Ukraine in the face of a full-scale Russian invasion. The meeting is organised at the active initiative of London and Paris.

A spokesman for the Elysee Palace said on condition of anonymity that the meeting will be held with the participation of French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The leaders will hold talks from NATO's Northwood Headquarters base, the command centre for the alliance's Combined Maritime Forces.

"The summit will be chaired by the French president and the British prime minister. We will discuss how to preserve Ukraine's defence capability, increase pressure on Russia and identify next steps," the French official said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will join the discussions remotely - from Rome, where he is attending a separate international conference in support of Kiev.

Since Donald Trump's growing influence in the United States, ceasefire talks with Moscow have stalled and European capitals have begun looking for their own ways to boost Ukraine's defence capabilities.

"The conversation among Europeans has now shifted to how to cover Ukraine's needs quickly, especially against the backdrop of air attacks from Russia," French sources said.

In parallel, as previously reported, the Pentagon has partially suspended deliveries of anti-aircraft missiles promised to Ukraine. The reason is fears that the US stockpile of weapons itself has become too low. Ukrainian officials have already warned: freezing military aid will only encourage aggression on the part of Russia.

Context:
The so-called "coalition of the willing" (coalition of the willing) is an informal alliance of Western countries supporting Ukraine with arms, humanitarian aid and diplomatic initiatives. It began to form in 2023 at the initiative of Paris and London and represents a parallel track to more formal formats such as NATO and Ramstein.

According to experts, it is within this group that potential options for the deployment of "guarantee forces" in Ukraine in case of future ceasefire agreements are discussed.