Macron rallies 37-nation Ukraine coalition in Paris: 16 Rafale jets pledged, UK joins EU loan
At Les Invalides in Paris, President Macron received leaders from the 'coalition of volunteers' and announced the delivery of 16 Rafale fighter jets to Ukraine, as London agreed to join a 90-billion-euro EU loan.
The Paris summit
On Monday, at the historic Les Invalides complex in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron hosted a high-level gathering of the 'coalition of volunteers,' a diplomatic-military alliance formed by Paris and London in 2024. The coalition, originally designed to offer security guarantees to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia, now counts 37 countries, nearly all European states, whether EU members or not. Macron personally greeted each arriving head of state and government, framing the event as a powerful display of unity. The meeting took place against the backdrop of intensified Russian bombardments across Ukraine and served to reinforce the message that Europe is ready to shoulder greater responsibility for Kyiv's defense.
Military pledges
During the summit, Macron announced that France would deliver 16 Rafale multirole fighter jets to Ukraine, alongside additional air-defense systems. The coalition highlighted the urgent necessity to shield Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure from the sustained wave of Russian missile and drone attacks. Specific timelines for the equipment transfer were not provided, but defense officials indicated that deliveries would be expedited. Macron pointed to Europe's 'strategic awakening' as the driving force behind the expanded military assistance, a phrase that has become central to the coalition's narrative.
Financial support
In a parallel development, London and Brussels agreed on Monday to include the United Kingdom in the European Union's 90-billion-euro loan facility for Ukraine. The deal, struck outside the summit but closely tied to its agenda, will allow the British defense industry to supply more weapons to Kyiv. This arrangement broadens the funding base beyond EU member states and deepens the UK's commitment to Ukraine, even after Brexit. The loan is intended to cover both arms procurement and direct financial support for the Ukrainian state, ensuring it can keep functioning under the strain of war.
Russia's diplomatic countermove
Moscow responded swiftly and angrily to the Paris summit. The Russian foreign ministry summoned German ambassador Alexander Graf Lambsdorff on Monday to protest Germany's military aid to Ukraine, which it accused of enabling an increase in Ukrainian strikes. The summons came just hours after Germany had called in the Russian representative in Berlin, creating a tit-for-tat diplomatic spat. Russia denounced the 37-nation coalition as a 'coalition of war,' a term reflecting its deep displeasure with the expanding international alignment behind Kyiv.
A coalition on the march
What began as a small Franco-British initiative in the summer of 2024 has mushroomed into a broad alliance encompassing almost the entire European continent, including both EU and non-EU states. The Paris summit, held only days after a spate of Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian power plants, aimed to project resilience and long-term resolve. Participants committed to continuing the flow of military hardware, particularly air-defense systems and long-range artillery. The event also served as a preparatory platform for any eventual ceasefire negotiations, with Europe determined to be a key player in future security arrangements for Ukraine.
