STORY
On 10 April 2025, the United Kingdom and France co-hosted the inaugural meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing” in Brussels, bringing together defence ministers from approximately 30 nations to strategise support for Ukraine’s long-term security and peace efforts.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey and French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu led discussions focusing on the formation of a multinational reassurance force. This force aims to provide credible security assurances to Ukraine, deterring future Russian aggression and supporting the nation’s sovereignty. Healey emphasised the coalition’s commitment, stating, “We cannot jeopardise the peace by forgetting about the war, so we must put even more pressure on Putin and step up our support for Ukraine – both in today’s fight and the push for peace.”
The meeting follows a recent visit by UK Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin and French military leaders to Kyiv, where they consulted with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukrainian defence officials to align on strategic planning. In conjunction with the coalition meeting, the UK announced a £350 million contribution from its £4.5 billion military aid package for 2025. This funding will support essential repairs, maintenance for military vehicles and equipment, radar systems, anti-tank mines, and the provision of hundreds of thousands of drones to bolster Ukraine’s defence capabilities.