France is preparing to host a major meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing” this coming Monday, as at least 25 heads of state and government gather in Paris. The summit, held at the Hôtel des Invalides, is intended to reinforce unity and cooperation regarding support for Ukraine ahead of the annual 14 July Bastille Day celebrations.
The coalition, which was established in Paris and is co-led by the United Kingdom, has grown to include 37 member nations. This week’s gathering will mark the first participation for two new members, Moldova and North Macedonia. The meeting follows recent discussions at the G7 summit in Évian and the NATO summit in Ankara, where allies pledged a combined €70 billion in military assistance to Kyiv for 2026.
According to an adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron, the primary objective of the meeting is to demonstrate that Western allies remain committed to Ukraine and that Moscow cannot rely on “war fatigue” to weaken the international response. Discussions are expected to center on air defense cooperation, specifically focusing on US plans to license the production of Patriot missiles within Ukraine and the potential development of a broader anti-ballistic missile system.
Regarding security guarantees should a ceasefire occur, the French presidency stated that frameworks for a multinational force stationed away from the front lines are already “ready,” though they remain subject to change given the uncertainty surrounding the end of hostilities. Beyond the presence of troops on the ground, these guarantees would be based on “legally binding” bilateral agreements and on US involvement in monitoring a ceasefire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is anticipated to be in Paris on both Monday and Tuesday.
The diplomatic meeting precedes France’s Bastille Day parade, which the Élysée Palace reports will feature nearly 6,800 service personnel, marking a 15% increase in troop participation compared to last year. The parade will also see a 30% rise in the number of vehicles and aircraft involved. Approximately 500 service members from the Coalition of the Willing are slated to lead the procession. The event will include aerial displays by the Patrouille de France, joined by two Mirage fighter jets piloted by French-trained Ukrainian co-pilots, alongside aircraft from Germany, Britain, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Greece, Italy, Norway, Poland, and Sweden.
