The summit, described as a “coalition of the willing,” includes UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom Macron met yesterday. Discussions will range from increased military support and rearmament for Kyiv to the potential deployment of peacekeeping troops should a ceasefire be reached, despite Russia’s opposition to new NATO contingents near its borders.
While participants aim to present a united front, differing views exist, particularly regarding France and the UK’s desire to maintain pressure on Moscow and provide security guarantees to Ukraine after the war, potentially involving troop deployments.
Macron stated yesterday that lifting sanctions on Russia is premature and pledged an additional two billion euros to Zelensky for missiles, armored vehicles, drones, and ammunition. Leaders also discussed the potential delivery of more Mirage-2000 fighters to Ukraine, despite Moscow’s warnings that rearmament will escalate the conflict.
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