Coalition of the Willing leaders set virtual meeting ahead of Zelenskyy-Trump talks
Illustrative photo: Meeting announcement made in France
Leaders of the Coalition of the Willing plan to meet via videoconference on August 17. The meeting will come ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Washington, reports The Guardian.
The announcement came from the Office of French President Emmanuel Macron, according to The Guardian. The leaders of the coalition countries will co-chair the meeting: President of France Emmanuel Macron, Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz, and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer.
On August 16, Macron announced the upcoming Coalition of the Willing meeting following talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He did not provide a specific date at the time.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he will travel to Washington on Monday, August 18, to discuss details of ending the war with Trump. Trump suggested that if the meeting with Zelenskyy goes well, a trilateral summit could take place in the format Zelenskyy–Putin–Trump.
What is the Coalition of the Willing?
The Coalition of the Willing is a group of mostly European countries committed to supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia. The initiative to create the coalition was officially announced on March 2, 2025, by Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer during a summit in London.
Previously, the coalition held a meeting on July 10 in Rome. Representatives from the United States participated in the session for the first time.
