French President Embraces Ukrainian Leader in Preparation for Gathering of Aligned Powers

French President Embraces Ukrainian Leader Prior to Gathering of Allied Nations - French President Embraces Zelenskyy Prior to Coalition of Volunteer Nations' Gathering

The Coalition of the Willing, a group of around 30 European states, will convene in Paris on Thursday morning for a crucial meeting aimed at discussing security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. The gathering, co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, will take place in a hybrid format with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz participating via video link.

The meeting does not aim to discuss concrete contributions to the security guarantees at this stage. Instead, the message of the meeting is to demonstrate that the coalition is not only willing and capable, but ready to support Ukraine in its pursuit of peace.

However, significant reservations have been expressed by Chancellor Merz about sending German troops to Ukraine. He has emphasised the importance of achieving a ceasefire before any concrete plans for German troops can be made.

The French interpretation of security guarantees for Ukraine includes continued support for the Ukrainian army, Western ground troops as a deterrent to Russia, and a guarantee by the USA (details of which remain unclear). It is yet to be determined whether the German Bundeswehr will be involved in the ground troops proposed by President Macron and Prime Minister Starmer.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is among the attendees at the meeting in Paris. The discussions will focus on ensuring Ukraine's security in the event of a ceasefire, with each country expected to contribute according to its capabilities.

The deadline for a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, proposed by former US President Donald Trump, has expired. The current meeting in Paris comes at a critical juncture as tensions between Ukraine and Russia continue to escalate.

It was initially unclear whether there would be a press conference at the end of the meeting. However, updates on the discussions and any agreements reached are expected to be shared in due course. The outcome of this meeting could potentially pave the way for a more peaceful and secure future for Ukraine.