Coalition Adopts Six Points to Bolster European Support for Ukraine

The Coalition of the Willing, the 35-member European group of pro-Ukrainian countries, met in Ukraine on August 24, 2026 – Ukrainian Independence Day – and adopted a half-dozen points intended to reinforce political and military commitment to Ukraine.

The coalition was formed March 2, 2025, on the initiative of the United Kingdom and France, following a call by Czech President Petr Pavel and a London summit hosted by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Its explicit purpose was to build security guarantees, plan post-war peacekeeping, and coordinate support for Ukraine.

Independence Day meeting was co-chaired by UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz alongside President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 

Key Pillars of their Communiqué include:

Multinational Force Preparation: The coalition confirmed it is actively preparing the framework for a Multinational Force Ukraine (MF-U) to deploy once a credible cessation of hostilities is reached. This force is intended to serve as part of a set of politically and legally binding security guarantees to deter future aggression. 

Air Defense & Technological Co-Production: Reaffirmed an urgent priority to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense, enhance defense-industry cooperation, and share specialized defense technologies, explicitly referencing integration through the Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition. 

Immediate Energy Infrastructure Support: Highlighted an urgent commitment to supply technical equipment and channel aid through the Ukraine Energy Support Fund to stabilize the power grid before winter. 

Economic Pressure & Shadow Fleet Targeting: Pledged to intensify sanctions against Russia’s military-industrial complex, clamp down on sanctions circumvention, and target Russia’s “Shadow Fleet” to disrupt maritime blockades and energy revenue streams. 

Ceasefire & Negotiations Framework: Commended Ukraine’s willingness to engage in peace negotiations while calling on Russia to agree to a full, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire along the current line of contact. 

Condemnation of Heritage Attacks: Explicitly condemned targeted strikes against Ukraine’s cultural heritage sites—including recent damage near historic sites like the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra—framing them as deliberate attempts to erase Ukrainian identity.