World leaders participate in the Coalition of the Willing summit at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France January 6, 2026. (Photo: Yoan Valat/Reuters)

The Paris meeting brought together the leaders of 30 Western countries, including the EU countries, the UK, and non-European allies like Canada,Australia, and New Zealand.

Long-term security commitments

In a joint statement released following the meeting, the participants said any future peace agreement to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict must include strong, legally binding security guarantees for Ukraine. They also pledged to work toward a just and lasting peace in line with the United Nations Charter, affirming that Ukraine’s self-defense capability is a key to its future security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic region.

The most concrete commitments came from France and the UK, two of Europe’s leading military powers. French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a declaration of intent to deploy a multinational force to monitor and ensure the implementation of a ceasefire in Ukraine, once such ceasefire is reached.

President Macron said the force would be deployed on land, in the air, and at sea, but would probably be deployed away from Ukraine's front lines. Both France and the UK affirmed their readiness to contribute thousands of troops and establish multiple military bases in Ukraine to stockpile equipment. For the first time, the US strongly stands behind the security guarantees.

“There are several layers of security guarantees in which the US has clarified its participation, particularly in intelligence and frontline monitoring. The US capabilities in this field have been clearly demonstrated. Over recent months we have built a reasonable and solid plan. The US has asked us to do more, and we have done so,” Macron said.

From left: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, France's President Emmanuel Macron and Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer shake hands upon the signing of the declaration on deploying post-ceasefire force in Ukraine at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 6, 2026. (Photo: Ludovic Marin/Reuters)

The participation of Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner sent a positive signal to the coalition and to Ukraine of the US’s deeper involvement in future security guarantee mechanisms.

Witkoff said the US proposes leading the ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism and broader economic cooperation with Ukraine. “We think we're largely finished with security protocols, which are important so that the people of Ukraine know that when this ends, it ends forever. We also think, critically, that we are very, very close to finishing up as robust a prosperity agreement as any country has ever seen coming out of conflicts like this.”

A question about transatlantic relations

Although not a breakthrough in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the coalition’s commitments are a positive step for Ukraine’s future security. Growing disagreements between Europe and the US, however, over Venezuela and President Trump’s intention to annex Greenland threaten the fragile consensus.

Most European countries have cautiously avoided direct criticism of US military moves and diplomatic pressure on Venezuela, merely voicing support for international law and the multilateral international order. The risk that the US might annex Greenland despite opposition from Denmark and the island’s own autonomous authorities, however, has prompted Europe to issue stronger statements.

At the Paris meeting in Paris, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the UK, and Denmark released a joint statement saying Greenland belongs to its people and it is for Denmark and Greenland only to decide matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.

High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas arrives for the Coalition of the Willing summit at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France January 6, 2026. (Photo: Yoan Valet/Reuters)

“Of course, the messages that we hear regarding Greenland are extremely concerning and we have had discussions also among the Europeans. If this is a real threat and if it is, then what would be our response? So, as Denmark has been a good ally for United States and all these, you know, statements are not really helping the stability of the world,” EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said.

Observers say Europe is facing a difficult choice: it must respond forcefully enough to the US’s new foreign policy, not only on Venezuela and Greenland but also on many other geopolitical dossiers, while at the same time ensuring continued US engagement in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as the US has an indispensable political, military, and security role in that process.

Europe must also respond appropriately to the US to preserve the unity and even the survival of NATO, the backbone of Europe’s security architecture for decades. The greatest challenge to resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict may lie in how Europe reshapes a new transatlantic relationship with the US.