French President Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk travelled to Kyiv on 10 May to take part in the first in-person summit of the so-called “Coalition of the Willing.”
• At Kyiv’s central rail terminal they were welcomed by Presidential-office head Andriy Yermak and Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga, who said the visit would “lock in European solidarity and produce crucial decisions for Ukraine’s security.”
• The coalition groups countries that have signalled readiness to deploy a multinational security mission to Ukraine as part of a wider peace plan.
• According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, today’s agenda covers concrete troop-deployment options, long-term defence aid and an updated Black Sea food-security initiative first discussed in Turkey.
Background
• The “Coalition of the Willing” emerged from February’s Paris consultations, where EU and NATO states explored ways to reinforce Ukraine without waiting for a full NATO consensus.
• Finland’s President Alexander Stubb recently confirmed that the bloc agreed at least one high-level European dialogue channel with Moscow, while stepping up military guarantees for Kyiv.
• Earlier this week, EU foreign ministers pledged €1 billion in fresh ammunition and outlined plans to supply 1.35 million artillery shells by end-2025.
Why the visit matters
• Four of Europe’s most influential leaders are signalling unity on the eve of EU elections and ahead of crucial NATO and G7 summits.
• Kyiv hopes the meeting will unlock firm timelines for the proposed security contingent, plus new air-defence and long-range missile packages.
• The talks also aim to finalise an expanded maritime-escort plan to safeguard grain corridors in the Black Sea.
What’s next
Joint statements are expected this evening, followed by individual bilateral meetings at the Presidential Palace. Observers anticipate announcements on:
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A roadmap for the coalition’s security deployment.
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Additional macro-financial support tied to Ukraine’s 2025 budget gap.
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Concrete steps toward Ukraine’s EU-accession negotiation clusters.
