Ukraine News:

“Coalition of the Willing”: Ukraine Allies Meet in Paris for Peace Talks

Written by Edda Bevilacqua

Ukraine’s allies met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on January 6, 2026 in Paris for talks that could possibly determine Ukraine’s future after a potential ceasefire with Russia. This group, called the “Coalition of the Willing,” which includes French President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom and United States envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, met at a summit to “protect Ukraine and ensure a just and lasting peace.”

Five key priorities following the end of the war were discussed at the summit: ways to monitor a ceasefire; support for Ukraine’s armed forces; deployment of a national force on land, sea and air; commitments in case of another incidence of Russian aggression and long-term defense cooperation with Ukraine.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that many details remain unfinalized and that “not everyone is ready” to commit forces.

Zelenskyy said that cooperation from France and the United Kingdom was essential because other coalition members “cannot provide military assistance in the form of troops, but do provide support through sanctions, financial assistance, humanitarian aid and so on.” He added, “Speaking frankly as President, even the very existence of the coalition depends on whether certain countries are ready to step up their presence. If they are not ready at all, then it is not really ‘a coalition of the willing’”.