Alliance of Willingness reaffirms commitment to bolster support for Ukraine and intensify pressure on Russia
Paris, August 24 (KUNA) -- Leaders of the "Coalition of the Willing" reaffirmed today their resolve to strengthen support for Ukraine and enable it to defend its sovereignty and independence against the war with Russia, while pledging to maintain pressure on Russia and support efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace.
The Elysee Palace stated in a press release that French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz chaired the coalition meeting, which was attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other leaders, coinciding with the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s restoration of independence.
The statement added that the meeting followed the coalition summit and the first meeting of the "Ballistic Missile Defense Coalition," both held in Paris on July 13, noting that leaders reaffirmed their determination to increase support for Ukraine.
It clarified that leaders reiterated their resolve to intensify pressure on Russia amid its continued rejection of peace and its "continuing attacks on civilians." They also continued working on establishing security guarantees aimed at laying the foundation for a just, robust, and lasting peace in Ukraine, based on the Paris Declaration issued on January 6, 2026.
Leaders strongly condemned the ongoing and escalating Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities, critical infrastructure, and civilians, which, according to the statement, resulted in the highest civilian casualty toll since the war began in 2022, as well as damage to a children’s hospital in Kyiv last week.
Coalition leaders affirmed their intention to increase military support for Ukraine and enhance its air defense capabilities, citing this as a priority alongside intensifying cooperation with Ukraine’s defense industry and exchanging relevant technologies, including through the Ballistic Missile Defense Coalition.
They also pledged to tighten sanctions on the Russian military-industrial complex and its supporters, and agreed on the need to provide urgent assistance to Ukraine’s energy sector in preparation for the upcoming winter, including through the Ukraine Energy Support Fund and by supplying specialized equipment.
According to the statement, leaders stressed the importance of continuing support for the resilience of the Ukrainian economy in the face of what they described as intensified Russian attempts to reimpose a naval blockade on Ukrainian ports. They reaffirmed their ongoing efforts to reduce the financial resources funding the Russian war through sanctions and economic measures.
Leaders welcomed President Zelenskyy’s continued willingness to participate in constructive peace negotiations aimed at achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace, and renewed their call on Russia to agree to a comprehensive, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire along the entire line of contact.
The coalition affirmed its continued readiness to prepare a multinational force for Ukraine, with a view to deploying it as soon as a reliable ceasefire is reached, as part of a broader package of strong, politically and legally binding security guarantees that would ensure Ukraine’s security and future prosperity. (End) M.B. / M.A. H.A.
