KYIV, Ukraine (Chatnewstv.com) — Leaders from the Coalition of the Willing met Tuesday via video conference to discuss the recent Geneva talks, coordinate next steps to bolster Ukraine’s defense, and push for a lasting peace settlement, as Russia’s war continues.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined the meeting, co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Forty participants joined the session, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Šekerinska, who was in Kyiv.
Zelenskyy thanked the international partners for their steadfast support and stressed the principle of inclusion in security decisions.
“We firmly believe – security decisions about Ukraine must include Ukraine – that was our position in Geneva and always – security decisions about Europe must include Europe, and the same applies to Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, other countries, and every other nation,” Zelenskyy said. “And this is simply fair – and it actually works.”
The Ukrainian president noted that the Geneva meetings had yielded a “good result,” providing a framework for future action. He reiterated his readiness to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, noting the potential value of European leaders’ presence.
“I am ready to meet with President Trump – there are sensitive points to discuss, we have them still, and we think that the presence of European leaders could be helpful,” the Head of State stressed.
Amid ongoing combat, Zelenskyy underscored the need for continued defense support, sustained sanctions on Russia, the final channeling of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine, and a framework for deploying the Coalition of the Willing’s “Reassurance Force Ukraine.”
French President Emmanuel Macron echoed support for a sovereign Ukraine and a just resolution.
“We have always supported America’s efforts to put an end to this war. And we are united in support for a just, dignified, and lasting peace for Ukraine that would preserve its sovereignty and ensure its long-term security,” Macron stated, emphasizing that reliable security guarantees are a core mission of the coalition.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised Ukraine’s constructive adjustments to U.S. proposals during the Geneva talks. He stressed the necessity of preserving Ukrainian sovereignty and upholding the principle that “all matters concerning Ukraine and its future must be determined by Ukraine.”
Starmer also called for increased pressure on Moscow, robust future security guarantees, and immediate strengthening of Ukrainian air defenses, specifically mentioning the Multinational Force Ukraine.
“The Multinational Force Ukraine will be a vital part of this. Our Military Planners, who have worked really hard in recent months, will continue to work on the readiness of that force. And we will also pick up next steps with the U.S. military on their own planning,” Starmer said.
German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz focused on bringing Moscow to the negotiation table as a key current task.
“We currently have a position aligned among Ukraine, the United States, and Europe, but Russia is not at the negotiating table. Therefore, we must do everything we can to put pressure on it,” Merz noted.
The meeting saw participation from leaders across Europe, including the presidents of Lithuania, Türkiye, and Finland, as well as the prime ministers of Italy, Canada, and Spain. Senior officials from the European Union, NATO, and countries like Australia, Poland, Latvia, and Japan also took part.
