The European grouping known as the “Coalition of the Willing” convened virtually on Sunday, reaffirming their commitment to deploy a “reassurance force” to Ukraine once hostilities with Russia have ended.
The meeting, co-chaired by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, came ahead of Monday’s talks in Washington between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Starmer, Macron, and other European leaders are also expected to travel to Washington, seeking to influence Trump’s stance and avoid a repeat of Zelensky’s first Oval Office meeting with Trump in February, which was widely viewed as unproductive.
In a joint statement, Starmer and Macron said:
“President Macron and Prime Minister Starmer today co-chaired a virtual meeting of ‘Coalition of the Willing’ leaders, with the participation of President Zelensky. Leaders convened to discuss support for Ukraine and next steps in peace negotiations following President Trump’s meeting with President Putin in Alaska. The leaders reaffirmed their continued support for Ukraine, and praised President Zelensky’s pursuit of a just and lasting peace as he prepares for further consultations with President Trump in Washington, D.C. They also commended President Trump’s commitment to providing security guarantees to Ukraine, in which the Coalition of the Willing will play a vital role through the Multinational Force Ukraine, among other measures. The leaders re-emphasized their readiness to deploy a reassurance force once hostilities cease, to help secure Ukraine’s skies and seas, and to assist in regenerating Ukraine’s armed forces. President Macron and Prime Minister Starmer also informed leaders they would travel to Washington tomorrow for a meeting with President Trump, alongside President Zelensky.”
The concept of a “reassurance force” first emerged in March 2025, after Trump began pressing Ukraine to accept a ceasefire. Analysts have described the force as a “tripwire,” potentially dragging the United States into direct conflict with Russia if European troops deployed in Ukraine were attacked.
Earlier this year, European leaders—particularly Starmer—lobbied Trump to provide a “backstop,” or security guarantee, ensuring U.S. military intervention if European forces in Ukraine came under attack. Moscow has repeatedly warned it would not tolerate foreign deployments in Ukraine, making the likelihood of clashes with Russia almost certain.
The revival of the reassurance force proposal suggests that security guarantees for both Ukraine and European states will be a central issue during Monday’s Trump–Zelensky meeting in Washington.