At least 25 heads of state are meeting in Paris today with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a Coalition of the Willing summit focused on securing more air defence systems for Ukraine, as ballistic missile shortages have left Kyiv increasingly exposed despite recent shifts in battlefield momentum in its favour.
The summit, held at the Élysée Palace, will officially declare the Multinational Force for Ukraine ready for deployment once fighting ends. French President Emmanuel Macron has promised bilateral announcements including joint arms production deals and the scheduling of multinational military exercises to test the force’s credibility across land, air, sea and training dimensions.
The primary focus is air defence. Western allies will look at sourcing more US Patriot interceptors, advancing deployment of the Franco-Italian SAMP-T system and developing European alternatives to give Ukraine a meaningful production role.  Washington gave Ukraine permission this month to build US-designed Patriot systems domestically, though production may take months to begin.
Russia launched missile and drone strikes on Ukraine on Saturday killing eight people, while Ukrainian drones struck four targets in Russia’s Moscow region on Sunday. Leaders will also discuss targeting Moscow’s shadow fleet of tankers used to evade oil sanctions. The EU is set to adopt a 21st package of Russia sanctions next week.
Zelenskyy and the attending leaders will remain in Paris for the Bastille Day military parade on the Champs Elysées tomorrow, which will prominently feature Ukraine.
