Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine will host a meeting of the “Alliance of Willing” leaders tomorrow, Saturday.
In a video address released by his office, Zelensky stated, “We need this alliance to be strong enough to ensure security in line with our shared vision.”
It has become evident that progress regarding Europe’s role in providing security assurances post-war is challenging, especially with the diminishing chances of a ceasefire and the continent’s heavy reliance on how Russia responds, along with the level of U.S. support for its allies.
Ukraine is seeking clear security guarantees from its allies to protect against any future military actions from Russia. The alliance is considering the possibility of deploying a limited number of foreign troops in Ukraine as part of potential assurances.
On Thursday, Zelensky informed U.S. President Donald Trump during a phone call that a 30-day ceasefire is a “real indicator” of progress toward peace with Russia, and that Kyiv is ready to implement it immediately.
Trump proposed a 30-day ceasefire last March, which Ukraine accepted; however, Russia indicated that such a measure could only be enacted after credible monitoring and support mechanisms are established.
Zelensky did not specify which leaders would attend the alliance meeting in Kyiv, but newly appointed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz mentioned this week that he plans to visit Ukraine soon.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced today that France will participate in the meeting in Ukraine on Saturday. He also noted that part of the meeting will be conducted via video conference while the other part will involve in-person attendance by the participants.