Ukraine’s allies are convening in Paris on Tuesday for critical talks aimed at shaping the country’s security in the event of a potential ceasefire with Russia. However, the likelihood of significant progress is uncertain as the Trump administration’s attention has shifted toward Venezuela.
Before the U.S. operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, French President Emmanuel Macron had expressed optimism about the gathering of the so-called “coalition of the willing.” For months, participating nations have been discussing ways to deter any future Russian aggression if a ceasefire is agreed upon.
In a Dec. 31 address, Macron said allies would “make concrete commitments” at the summit “to protect Ukraine and ensure a just and lasting peace.”
Macron’s office stated that Tuesday’s meeting will feature an unprecedented number of in-person participants: 35 officials, including 27 heads of state and government. The U.S. will be represented by Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Originally, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was expected to lead the U.S. delegation, but he changed plans due to the military intervention in Venezuela.
The participants aim to achieve tangible outcomes in five key areas once hostilities end: monitoring a ceasefire; supporting Ukraine’s armed forces; deploying a multinational force by land, sea, and air; committing to responses in case of renewed Russian aggression; and establishing long-term defense cooperation with Ukraine. Yet whether these goals can be met remains unclear amid the U.S. focus on Venezuela.
Ukraine seeks firm assurances from Washington on military and other support, which are seen as critical to securing commitments from other allies. Kyiv has expressed concern that a ceasefire could allow Russia time to regroup and launch another attack.
Recent progress in talks
Before the U.S. operation in Venezuela, Witkoff indicated progress in discussions about protecting and reassuring Ukraine. In a Dec. 31 post, he described talks with Rubio, Kushner, and national security advisers from Britain, France, Germany, and Ukraine as “productive,” focusing on strengthening security guarantees and creating mechanisms to end the war and prevent its resurgence.
France, working closely with the United Kingdom, has coordinated a months-long multinational effort to prepare for a ceasefire, but has provided only broad details. It has stated that Ukraine’s first line of defense would remain its own military, strengthened through training, weaponry, and other support. Macron has also suggested that European forces could be deployed away from Ukraine’s front lines to deter potential Russian aggression.
Key details still unfinalized
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted over the weekend that potential European troop deployments face significant hurdles, many details are yet to be finalized, and “not everyone is ready” to commit forces. He also pointed out that parliamentary approval is required in many countries for military support.
Zelenskyy emphasized that support could take forms other than troops, such as weapons, technology, and intelligence. He highlighted that post-ceasefire deployments by Britain and France—Western Europe’s only nuclear-armed nations—would be “essential,” since other coalition members may contribute through sanctions, financial aid, or humanitarian assistance rather than direct military involvement.
“Speaking frankly as president, even the very existence of the coalition depends on whether certain countries are ready to step up their presence,” Zelenskyy said. “If they are not ready at all, then it is not really a ‘coalition of the willing.’”
