The coalition of willing countries met at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Thursday afternoon.
France and the United Kingdom are leading the coalition’s efforts to increase support for Ukraine while maintaining pressure on Russia and President Vladimir Putin.
Defence ministers from around 30 coalition countries gathered for their first meeting, with Belgium represented by Theo Francken (N-VA). Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov also attended.
EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, stated, “Everyone is considering what more we can do for Ukraine, including intelligence, satellite access, and various capabilities.”
Paris and London are working on a European troop contingent to bolster Ukraine’s security, but it’s unclear what mandate these troops would have.
Some EU Member States are willing to participate, while others are hesitant, noted Kallas. She emphasised the need to define the contingent’s role: deterrence, observation, or peacekeeping. "This also depends on whether there is peace or not. So far, we do not have peace to keep," she pointed out.
UK Defence Minister John Healey stated, "Our security commitment for Ukraine would be a dedicated and credible arrangement to ensure that a negotiated peace, as committed by President Trump, brings lasting peace for Ukraine."
Healey outlined the mission’s goals to secure airspace and waters, support ground peace, and assist Ukrainian forces in becoming a strong deterrent.
The United States has so far declined to provide a safety net for the European contingent. However, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stressed the importance of such a guarantee to deter Russian aggression.
The United States did not attend Thursday’s meeting. Kallas emphasised, "It is also in the United States’ interest to have stability and peace in Europe. What happens in Ukraine and how this war ends will impact other security theatres."
Kallas also referenced the US-Ukrainian talks in Saudi Arabia, where Ukraine agreed to a 30-day ceasefire. "It is clear that Ukraine wants peace, but Russia does not," she said.
On Friday, the UK and Germany will chair the meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) at NATO headquarters, involving around 50 countries, including Belgium.
According to Healey, these nations will pledge increased military support to strengthen Ukraine on the battlefield.
Under former US President Joe Biden, this group was chaired by the then-US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.
