Deepening Divisions in Europe Over Ukraine’s Future Defense Capabilities: Can a Multinational Military Coalition Be Formed in Paris?
Following prolonged and intense discussions, European leaders remain divided on how to prepare and establish joint military forces to support Ukraine in its fight against aggression.
Ahead of the summit scheduled for today in Paris, chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron, alliance members are weighing their commitments and preparing for crucial talks with U.S.
President Donald Trump.
According to analysts, the key to strengthening Ukraine’s security lies in creating a multinational force led by the ‘Coalition of the Willing,’ comprising France and the United Kingdom, with backing from Washington.
However, there is still no consensus on what specific resources or contingents each nation is prepared to provide to Ukrainian territory.
Participants seem to categorize their positions into three groups: first, countries ready to deploy troops immediately, including the UK; second, those that have already refused, such as Italy; and third, many, including Germany, that remain undecided.
European diplomatic sources confirm that technical preparations are complete, and there are sufficient resources to assure the U.S.
of Europe’s willingness to take responsibility if Washington also commits.
Meanwhile, expectations are growing that the U.S.
administration under Trump will provide intelligence and air defense systems, but expects European nations to take the initiative.
The UK’s Minister of Defence, Ben Wallace, announced that London is reassessing its military readiness and accelerating funding to prepare for possible deployment in Ukraine.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized that allies must shortly develop concrete proposals for security guarantees and intensify cooperation with the U.S.
to clarify their contributions.
Conversely, Germany has expressed skepticism about statements from the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen regarding plans for military presence in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, participating personally in talks in Paris, emphasised ongoing work with Macron on technical security guarantees, while addressing current needs of the Ukrainian armed forces, sanctions pressure on Russia, and the option to use frozen Russian assets.
Zelensky also met with Baltic leaders in Copenhagen, where they discussed individual contributions to collective security, stressing the importance of detailed plans for military support and funding.
Macron believes that the realization of security guarantees depends on Russia’s political will and readiness for peace, and this will be the focus of upcoming negotiations.
After discussions with Trump in Washington, Ukrainian officials received promises of ‘very good’ security guarantees, but their actual content remains unclear, raising questions about their ability to adapt to the evolving battlefield and deter Moscow’s aggression, explains international analyst Vladimir Kim.