Macron links Ukraine summit with address to the French armed forces

Paris – 13/07/2026: On Monday, France is hosting the countries of the Coalition of the Willing for Ukraine at a summit in Paris. President Emmanuel Macron is linking the meeting with his traditional address to the armed forces on the eve of the military parade for the national holiday. The gathering is intended to demonstrate the political unity of Kyiv’s European supporters and further clarify security guarantees for the period after a possible ceasefire.

The Coalition of the Willing was created in February 2025 at the initiative of France and the United Kingdom. It includes countries prepared to contribute to Ukraine’s long-term security beyond military aid. At its core is the preparation of a multinational force that could help provide deterrence after the end of hostilities, support the Ukrainian armed forces, and secure maritime, land and air spaces.

According to the French Ministry of the Armed Forces, 35 coalition countries are taking part in the events surrounding July 14. Units from 36 foreign countries are scheduled to participate in the parade on the Champs-Elysees on Tuesday, July 14, 2026; nearly 500 soldiers from coalition member countries are expected to lead the procession together with French troops. Ukraine is also among the countries represented.

This gives the parade a foreign and security policy significance that extends beyond the national ceremony. Paris presents the participation of its partners as a sign of growing European self-reliance. France and the United Kingdom are leading the coalition politically, while the specific form of possible security commitments continues to depend on a ceasefire, Kyiv’s consent and a credible international agreement.

Macron’s address to the armed forces comes at a time of accelerated French rearmament. The government had announced additional spending of 36 billion euros for the years 2026 to 2030 to strengthen defense capabilities. An additional 3.5 billion euros is already planned for the current year. The president justifies the expansion by pointing to the worsening international conflict situation and the need to safeguard France’s military capacity to act in Europe.

Linking the Ukraine summit with the national holiday therefore follows a clear political choreography. Domestically, it underscores the head of state’s ambition to strengthen the armed forces as an instrument of national sovereignty. In foreign policy terms, it is intended to signal to European partners that France views support for Ukraine not merely as assistance to an attacked country, but as part of its own security interests.

Specific decisions from the summit had not yet been published in the morning. However, the presence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gives the meeting particular weight. The key question will be whether the participants move beyond general declarations of solidarity and formulate precise commitments on force planning, training, equipment and political coordination for the post-war order in Ukraine.