French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will co-chair an emergency summit of European leaders on July 10, aiming to reinforce Ukraine’s defenses as U.S. support wavers. The virtual meeting, held during Macron’s state visit to London, includes German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Discussions will focus on maintaining Kyiv’s combat capabilities following Washington’s suspension of key arms shipments this week.
Central to the talks is a Franco-British initiative to deploy a multinational stabilization force to Ukraine after any ceasefire agreement. While operational details remain classified, diplomatic sources describe it as a deterrent against renewed aggression. The proposal signals Europe’s commitment to long-term security guarantees, though officials stress no Western troops would enter Ukraine during active hostilities.
The summit responds to dual challenges: collapsed U.S.-led peace negotiations and Russia’s intensified missile campaign targeting Ukrainian infrastructure. President Trump’s recent call with Vladimir Putin yielded no breakthrough, with the Kremlin reiterating its refusal of unconditional ceasefires. European leaders now seek to coordinate arms transfers and financing independently, viewing unified action as critical before the U.S. election.
Moscow maintains its position that any truce must recognize territorial realities on the ground, a condition Kyiv and its allies reject. Analysts note Russia’s escalated strikes exploit gaps in Ukraine’s air defenses following delayed Western shipments. The Kremlin frames European intervention as prolonging conflict, while Macron and Starmer emphasize pressuring Russia to accept immediate negotiations.