Allies of Ukraine gathered in Paris on Monday alongside President Volodymyr Zelensky to reaffirm their support for Kyiv and step up pressure on Russia, at a summit of the so-called Coalition of the Willing that the Kremlin promptly dismissed as a meeting of leaders who "do not want peace".
Issued on: 13/07/2026 - 16:46Modified: 13/07/2026 - 16:56
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At least 25 heads of state are attending the gathering, held on the eve of Bastille Day, France's national holiday. Zelensky and other leaders will stay on for Tuesday's military parade on the Champs-Élysées in central Paris, which the Élysée said would highlight support for Ukraine. The summit comes at a "powerful moment of renewed transatlantic convergence and unity", but also of "more favourable developments on the ground" for Kyiv, the Élysée added. Ukraine's supporters Monday's meeting will "build further on this momentum... to demonstrate that Ukraine's supporters remain firmly committed to standing alongside the Ukrainian people, that there is absolutely no sign of fatigue, and that Russia cannot count on any such fatigue setting in", an adviser to President Emmanuel Macron said. US President Donald Trump, who has sought to maintain relations with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin while periodically criticising both Moscow and Kyiv, signalled his intention to offer greater support to Ukraine at the June G7 summit in France and last week's NATO meeting in Turkey. Washington last week also advanced bipartisan legislation targeting countries that buy Russian energy, potentially clearing the way for stronger pressure on Moscow. Ukraine marks four years of conflict, as losses rise with no end in sight The coalition's leaders are set to focus on cooperation with Ukraine on air and missile defence, including the licensed production of weapons in the country. The Multinational Force for Ukraine - the British- and French-led force that would deploy once the fighting has ended - is to be officially declared ready at the summit, officials in Paris said, and future joint military exercises are to be scheduled, according to Mr Macron.
