French President Emmanuel Macron said a group of 26 countries has declared readiness either to send contingents to Ukraine or to provide specific assets in support of an international “guarantee force” intended to uphold any future peace arrangement. He was speaking alongside President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after a meeting of the so-called Coalition of the Willing in Paris. Macron added that a broader political and military package of security guarantees has been prepared by 35 leaders.
Macron outlined a two-pillar approach. First, partners aim to remove restrictions on the size and capabilities of Ukraine’s armed forces, enabling Kyiv to rebuild a military able to deter renewed aggression. Second, the coalition has developed plans for a reassurance or guarantee force. “Today, 26 countries have formally committed to send a contingent or provide means to support this coalition,” he said, stressing that the force’s purpose would be to secure peace rather than to fight Russia. Several outlets, citing French and allied officials, specified that deployments would be tied to a ceasefire or peace deal.
The Paris session gathered more than 30 partner countries at the Élysée Palace, with several EU leaders attending in person and others participating by video link. Zelenskyy and the heads of EU institutions joined the discussions. The French presidency has framed the gathering as the point at which long-running technical work among chiefs of defence matured into a package ready for political sign-off.
The role of the United States remains under discussion. Washington is not a formal member of the coalition, but President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, held talks with European security advisers in Paris. Macron said partners expected to determine the US contribution “in the coming weeks.” The coalition’s preparations have unfolded amid uncertainty over the contours of future US support.
While headline figures were disclosed, specifics of the 26 national commitments were not. Officials indicated that contributions could include ground contingents on Ukrainian territory as well as maritime and air components to monitor and enforce a settlement, along with logistics, training, and enabling capabilities. Macron said deployment locations and dispositions were still being defined.
European leaders presented the initiative as part of a layered security architecture for Ukraine intended to operate alongside existing bilateral accords and NATO’s support mechanisms. Macron said the work by chiefs of staff had produced both political and military proposals now ready for leaders’ approval. Bloomberg and other outlets reported that the pledges would underpin a ceasefire enforcement regime, supplementing long-term capacity-building.
Reuters reported that, beyond the core military elements, the Paris meeting also examined ways to sustain pressure on Russia and to deter renewed hostilities after any cessation of fighting. The coalition’s objectives include sending a strategic signal of collective resolve while creating the framework for on-the-ground reassurance should a political agreement be reached. However, the pace of implementation will depend on diplomatic conditions and the alignment of participating states on command arrangements and rules of engagement.
Associated Press reporting described the prospective deployment as a “reassurance force” to be activated once fighting ends, reflecting an emphasis on stabilisation and verification rather than combat operations. That characterisation aligns with Macron’s statement that the coalition’s aim is to guarantee peace, not to wage war with Russia.
Attendance in Paris reflected a broad trans-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific interest, although the coalition’s exact composition was not published. Earlier French briefings indicated that European states form the core, with partners from other regions involved. The French presidency said several leaders participated virtually while six EU heads of government were present on site, alongside EU institutional leadership and Ukraine’s president.
Macron framed the outcome as the culmination of a “long path” of joint planning. “We have a political proposal, a military proposal, and a proposal from 35 leaders to provide Ukraine with security guarantees,” he said. He added that work continues on the force’s positioning. Further announcements are expected once capitals finalise national contributions and legal frameworks.
