More than 30 officials gathered in Paris for the meeting. But who is willing to do what in this coalition is still unclear.
European leaders convened in Paris on Thursday in the latest meeting of the “coalition of the willing,” the countries who could help Ukraine fight Russia despite wavering American commitment and who could help safeguard an eventual peace.
France and Britain have been leading the gatherings, with a first meeting in Paris in February and a second in London this month. Top military chiefs have also held meetings. More than 30 officials were attending Thursday’s meeting — mainly European heads of state and government but also top European Union representatives.
Who is willing to do what in the coalition remains unclear, especially when low growth and high debt are complicating the equation for European countries trying to spend more on their militaries.
The biggest question surrounds the idea of a potential “reassurance force” of European troops stationed in Ukraine once the conflict ends to prevent Russia from repeating its 2022 invasion. Britain and France floated the idea, but so far no other country has committed troops to such a force, which is still largely undefined and which Russia has called unacceptable.
Speaking during a briefing with reporters on Thursday, Maria V. Zakharova, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, called such a mission “military intervention in Ukraine under the guise of a peacekeeping mission.”
“It could lead to a direct military clash between Russia and NATO,” Ms. Zakharova added.
French officials say the latest summit shows that efforts by President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain to mount a joint European response are paying off.