Macron says 26 countries ready to deploy troops for Ukraine ceasefire

At least 26 countries have committed to participating in a potential deployment in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia. These countries “have pledged to send soldiers as part of a security force or to be present on the ground, at sea, or in the air,” said French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday after consultations of the so-called Coalition of the Willing in Paris.

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Germany, Italy, and Poland are among the countries that have formalized their participation, Macron added. “Each according to its capacity,” he emphasized. The German government had previously announced that its contribution to security guarantees could include a strengthening of Ukraine’s air defense. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the allies for their willingness to send troops to secure a potential ceasefire in Ukraine. He described the development as “a serious and concrete step forward” for the first time in a long period.

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Macron said that U.S. participation would be “clarified in the coming days,” referring to discussions between European leaders and U.S. President Donald Trump following the Coalition of the Willing meeting. According to Zelenskyy, Trump “expressed strong dissatisfaction that Europe is buying Russian oil,” specifically mentioning Hungary and Slovakia.

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) participated via video link in the consultations and was also on the call with Trump. The Chancellor later warned that further sanctions against Russia could follow if there is no progress in ceasefire negotiations. “We Europeans continue intensive Ukraine diplomacy and act jointly,” Merz wrote on X. “A summit must be worked toward where Zelenskyy participates. There a ceasefire must be agreed,” he stressed.

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