Merz, von der Leyen, and Selensky are journeying alongside Trump.
The Coalition of the Willing, comprising Germany, France, and Britain, is coordinating their strategy ahead of a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump. The aim is to present a united European front that strengthens Ukraine's defense, maintains pressure on Russia, and avoids a premature or flawed peace settlement [1][2][3][4].
Key elements of this strategy include:
Strengthening Ukraine’s Military
Germany, under its new government, is set to play a larger, more coordinated leadership role in strengthening Ukraine's military. This approach, known as the "porcupine" defense, aims to deter further Russian attacks [1]. France and Britain will provide support in this endeavour.
Coalition Military Presence and Readiness
France and the UK have proposed leading a coalition to send troops from their countries and other European allies to support Ukraine on the ground [4]. This move is intended to bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities.
Coordinating a Timeline for Peace Negotiations
The coalition has attached a timetable (around two weeks) for accountability on Russia. The aim is to pressure Putin and shift responsibility back to Trump if Russia does not comply [2].
Maintaining Alliance Cohesion and Resisting Concessions
The coalition seeks to align with Washington to strengthen Ukraine's position and prevent any deal that legitimizes Russia's land grabs or weakens European security [2][3]. They aim to work closely with the US to ensure a durable security architecture for Ukraine.
Leveraging the Upcoming Meeting with Trump
As Zelensky meets Trump along with European leaders, the coalition aims to steer discussions towards a durable security architecture for Ukraine, rather than ephemeral or superficial agreements. They emphasize increased European defense responsibility alongside US involvement [3].
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha calls for more pressure on Moscow to end Russian aggression. Sybiha also wants guarantees for Ukraine's security, strengthened defense capabilities, and deterrent measures to force Russia to end the war [5].
In a separate development, Trump has planned to discuss ways to end the war with Zelensky after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday [6]. However, Trump has backed down from his ultimate demand for a ceasefire and will now discuss a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia [7].
The last meeting between Zelensky and Trump at the White House in February ended in a heated argument, following Trump's accusations against the Ukrainian president on live TV, resulting in the temporary suspension of US military aid to Ukraine [8].
The European Commission is preparing a 19th package of sanctions against Russia, as the Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) prepare to meet with Trump and Zelensky in Washington tomorrow [9]. Other European heads of state and government are expected to attend the meeting.
Von der Leyen will receive Zelensky in Brussels on Sunday [10]. The topics of the meeting include ending Russian aggression against Ukraine, security guarantees, territorial issues, and continued support for Ukraine in defending against Russian aggression, including maintaining economic sanctions.
The Coalition of the Willing's strategy is a response to Ukraine's nearly three and a half years of defending itself against Russian aggression. The goal is to ensure a peaceful resolution in Ukraine, with Germany underscoring this objective [11]. A video conference of the Coalition of the Willing is planned, which includes Germany, France, and Britain, among others [12].
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