Ukraine to host coalition of willing leaders Saturday Zelenskiy says

KYIV - Ukraine will host a meeting of leaders of the so-called “coalition of the willing” on May 10, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Established earlier in 2025 and led by France and Britain, the coalition reflects concern among Europeans that the US no longer represents a bulwark of support for Ukraine’s three-year-old battle against a full-blown Russian invasion.

“We need this coalition, and it should be strong enough to guarantee security in line with our common vision,” Mr Zelensky said in a video address published by his office in Kyiv.

Progress on what role Europe might play in providing post-war security guarantees is proving difficult with the prospect of a ceasefire distant and much dependent on how Russia responds and to what extent the US would support its allies.

Ukraine is seeking clear security guarantees from allies to safeguard it against any future Russian military action. The coalition has been mulling the possibility of a limited foreign contingent deployment to Ukraine as part of possible guarantees.

Mr Zelensky said on May 8 he had told US President Donald Trump in a telephone call that a 30-day ceasefire was a “real indicator” of progress towards peace with Russia, and Kyiv was ready to implement it immediately.

A 30-day ceasefire was initially proposed by Mr Trump in March and Ukraine agreed, while Russia said such a measure could only take effect once reliable measures of monitoring and upholding it were put in place.

Mr Zelensky did not specify which of the leaders was going to come to Kyiv for the coalition meeting, but earlier this week Germany’s new chancellor Friedrich Merz said he intended to visit Ukraine in the near future.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on May 9 that France would take part in a meeting in Ukraine on May 10.