France announces new Coalition of the Willing meeting, Zelenskyy invited
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (Getty Images)
On July 13, at least 25 heads of state and government will gather in Paris as the Coalition of the Willing prepares to increase support for Ukraine and step up pressure on Russia, according to a statement from the Élysée Palace press service, Le Monde reports.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be in Paris on Monday to attend the Coalition of the Willing meeting.
According to the French presidency, the goal is "to achieve a ceasefire and resume peace negotiations" aimed at ending Russia's war against Ukraine.
Another Coalition of the Willing meeting
The Coalition of the Willing, launched by France and the United Kingdom to provide military support and security guarantees for Ukraine, brings together 35 countries, most of them European.
Moldova and North Macedonia will also take part in the meeting.
The summit will be held alongside the traditional Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Élysées.
"The meeting comes at a moment of strong transatlantic convergence and unity, as well as amid favorable momentum for Kyiv," the French presidency said.
Ukraine will be able to purchase military equipment and weapons from British companies using funds from a European loan. The official announcement is expected to be made during the Coalition of the Willing meeting in Paris on July 13.
Ukraine and its Western partners have also agreed on a response plan in case Russia violates a future ceasefire agreement. If hostilities continue after such violations, the proposal would move to a second stage involving the deployment of the Coalition of the Willing forces.
