Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that leaders of the "coalition of the willing" will meet in Kyiv on Saturday, as Europe weighs its long-term security role in Ukraine's future.

The meeting brings together members of a European-led coalition, spearheaded by France and Britain, that seeks to secure Ukraine’s sovereignty beyond the war. Established earlier this year, the group reflects European unease over waning U.S. involvement in Ukraine’s defence.

“We need this coalition, and it should be strong enough to guarantee security,” Zelenskyy said in a video address on Thursday.

Zelenskyy pushes Trump’s ceasefire plan

Zelenskyy also confirmed he had spoken to U.S. President Donald Trump, reiterating that Ukraine is ready to implement a 30-day ceasefire—first proposed by Trump in March. Kyiv has agreed to the terms, but Moscow insists on a monitoring framework before any truce can begin.

Europe’s role still unclear

Although a ceasefire remains distant, Ukraine is pressing for concrete security guarantees, including a potential deployment of foreign troops under coalition oversight. The format of these guarantees, and whether the U.S. will back them, remains unresolved.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has signalled he may attend the talks, though Zelenskyy did not confirm which leaders would travel to Kyiv.

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