Countries ready to contribute troops for a post-cease-fire mission in Ukraine have established a headquarters in Paris, aiming for rapid deployment once hostilities conclude in Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine. For the first time, a U.S. delegation attended the recent meeting of this coalition, underscoring the international commitment to support Ukraine.
Among those present was retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, who served as U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. This meeting occurred on the sidelines of the fourth annual Ukraine Recovery Conference held in Rome, reflecting ongoing international interest in stabilizing the region.
Additionally, prominent U.S. lawmakers attended, including Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal. Both senators have co-sponsored a new sanctions bill targeting Russia, which notably seeks to impose a 500% tariff on goods imported from nations that continue to purchase Russian oil.
French President Emmanuel Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer also participated in the meeting, joining via videoconference as Macron was engaged in a state visit to Britain. The coalition members collectively agreed to establish a Paris headquarters for the new Multinational Force Ukraine for the first year, with plans to rotate the headquarters to London subsequently. A coordination cell is additionally planned for Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.
The forthcoming Multinational Force Ukraine intends to provide logistical support and training expertise to assist in rebuilding Ukraine's armed forces, securing its airspace, and safeguarding the Black Sea region. However, specific contributions from member countries were not disclosed, and the precise role of the U.S. delegation remains unclear.
Starmer expressed the importance of this "reassurance force," stating that it is vital for securing Europe. “That is why the coalition of the willing is ensuring we have a future force that can deploy following a ceasefire to deter Russian aggression for years to come,” he noted in a public statement.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni emphasized the significance of Washington's attendance at this coalition meeting, which marks the sixth such gathering since the onset of the war. Meloni regarded it as a “fundamental” sign of Western unity in support of Ukraine. She underscored the necessity of enhancing pressure on Moscow to achieve a ceasefire that facilitates diplomatic negotiations, but reiterated the need for deterrence to make that happen.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to Kellogg, Graham, and Blumenthal for their participation, recognizing it along with Trump’s recent supportive gestures towards Ukraine as crucial signals of ongoing support. “His signals are very, very important, and we count on it,” Zelenskyy remarked, expressing optimism about developing a coalition of support in the future.
