Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan traveled to Paris to represent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a summit of a "coalition of the willing" focused on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The gathering, which included senior representatives from 37 countries, was co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The coalition reaffirmed its unwavering support for Kyiv, emphasizing a commitment to accelerating efforts toward a lasting peace.
In a statement issued following the summit, the co-chairs of the informal group of 35 nations, led by the UK and France, expressed their determination to secure a just resolution. They stated that any such peace must align with international law, specifically the United Nations Charter, to protect both Ukraine's sovereignty and broader security interests. The meeting drew upon previous diplomatic milestones, including the G7 summit in Evian and the NATO summit in Ankara, to build a unified approach regarding peace negotiations and security guarantees.
A broad consensus emerged among the participants, who collectively called for an immediate and complete ceasefire in Ukraine to facilitate the resumption of direct negotiations. The coalition expressed support for a dialogue between Ukraine and Russia, which would feature active participation from the United States and European nations. This proposed framework aims to establish a ceasefire starting from the current line of contact, followed by meaningful, substantive negotiations. The participants underscored that there can be no peace without Ukraine and insisted that no arrangements concerning European security interests should be negotiated without European involvement.
Regarding security guarantees, the group welcomed the strong support expressed by US President Donald Trump during the NATO summit in Ankara. Reaffirming the principles established in the Paris Declaration of January 6, 2026, the coalition confirmed that any long-term peace agreement must be supported by legally and politically binding security guarantees. These protections are intended to be activated as soon as a formal ceasefire enters into force.
