Britain and France have pledged to assemble a “coalition of the willing” to support a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia, but questions remain about the number of countries willing to participate and the impact of Russia’s stance on such a coalition. Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain did not directly address these concerns after a recent summit in London, but expressed optimism that several nations would join and that this would signal to President Trump that Europe is prepared to “do the heavy lifting.” Drawing Mr. Trump back into the process is seen as crucial, as the United States appears determined to negotiate a deal with Russia without involving Europe and Ukraine, and without offering security guarantees. Mr. Starmer proposed that the coalition would support military aid for Ukraine, ensure Kyiv’s involvement in peace negotiations, and enhance Ukraine’s defensive capabilities post-settlement. Countries like Denmark and the Netherlands, which have been strong financial supporters of Ukraine and NATO members, are likely candidates for the coalition, but face political and economic challenges, such as needing parliamentary approval in the Netherlands and a lack of government in Germany. France’s President Emmanuel Macron suggested that any peacekeeping troops would only be deployed after a one-month truce, while Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni remains skeptical of such a force, arguing that it would be complex and less effective. Hungary, however, has shown resistance to additional European aid to Ukraine and could potentially block decisions related to frozen Russian assets in the European Union. The coalition’s success is uncertain, as Mr. Trump may not be satisfied, and the United States is considering suspending or canceling military aid to Ukraine.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/03/world/europe/europe-ukraine-russia.html