European leaders gathered in Paris on Tuesday for an unprecedented "Coalition of the Willing" summit aimed at establishing security guarantees for Ukraine, even as the specter of American distraction looms large over the proceedings.
French President Emmanuel Macron hosted 35 participants at the Élysée Palace, including 27 heads of state and government, in what may prove to be a pivotal moment for Europe's collective defense ambitions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was greeted warmly by Macron as discussions began on the concrete steps needed to protect Ukraine in any potential peace settlement with Russia.
The summit focused on five strategic priorities: establishing ceasefire monitoring mechanisms, providing armed forces support for Ukraine, deploying multinational forces across land, sea, and air, creating security commitments against future Russian aggression, and building long-term defense cooperation frameworks.
However, the proceedings were complicated by the conspicuous shift in American focus. U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner attended preparatory talks, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was originally planned to lead the delegation, remained in Washington due to the military operations in Venezuela. The American delegation's reduced prominence has raised questions about Washington's priorities at this critical juncture.
The talks took on added urgency as European allies grapple with the twin challenges of supporting Ukraine while managing tensions with the Trump administration over Greenland. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz joined Zelenskyy and Macron for a joint news conference, presenting a united front despite the underlying anxieties.
NATO's top commander and allied army chiefs participated in military-level discussions, exploring the practical aspects of potential peacekeeping deployments. The coalition is considering models ranging from observer missions to more robust deterrent forces, though the exact composition remains under negotiation.
As day 1,412 of Russia's full-scale invasion continues, with Russian forces attacking a Bunge-owned agricultural facility in Dnipro and causing a 300-tonne sunflower oil spill, the urgency of establishing durable security arrangements has never been clearer. The Paris summit represents Europe's attempt to chart its own course, even as questions mount about the reliability of its transatlantic partner.
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