Macron and Starmer press for a multinational force to secure post-war Ukraine
France and the United Kingdom have doubled down on their push for a multinational military force to be deployed in Ukraine once the war with Russia comes to an end. Their message was delivered during a virtual meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, a broad group that includes most European nations along with Turkey, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. The gathering was part of the diplomatic effort led by the United States to build momentum toward a peace agreement.
The idea of a follow-on multinational force has been controversial from the start. An original 28 point peace plan drafted in secret by American and Russian officials ruled out any NATO presence on Ukrainian soil, reflecting Russia’s long standing demand to keep the alliance at a distance. But France and the UK have refused to back down, arguing that Ukraine will require far more than assurances on paper if it is ever to be shielded from future aggression.
French President Emmanuel Macron made the case bluntly during his opening remarks. He said that there is finally a genuine chance to secure what he called a good peace but insisted that such a peace cannot be built on fragile guarantees. Ukraine, he said, has already lived through broken promises and repeated assaults. To prevent history from repeating itself, Macron argued, the country will need what he described as real rock solid guarantees backed by a physical presence.
Earlier in the day, Macron expanded on the concept during an interview on RTL radio. He described a reassurance force that would take up positions in key Ukrainian cities once hostilities stop. The idea is not to fight Russian troops but to carry out training missions and provide security support to help stabilise a post-war environment. Macron said that French, British and Turkish soldiers would be part of that force and emphasised that they were never intended to be placed on the front line. Instead, their presence would act as both a deterrent and a foundation for long term security.
Macron’s position was echoed by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who stressed the need for the Coalition of the Willing to firm up its commitment. Starmer said that planning and financing must begin now so that Ukraine’s future defence capabilities are ready when a peace deal is reached. He described the multinational force as a vital element, explaining that British military planners have spent months preparing the groundwork. Starmer said that work would continue to ensure the force could be deployed and operational when needed.
The meeting highlighted a growing divide between those pushing for minimal foreign troop involvement and those, like France and the UK, who believe that physical deployment is essential to prevent a cycle of renewed conflict. For Macron and Starmer, a stable peace requires more than warnings or diplomatic signatures. It requires a visible presence capable of training Ukrainian forces and supporting them after the war ends.
The Coalition of the Willing will continue its discussions in the coming weeks as the United States works to keep the peace process moving. But France and the UK have made clear that they see their stance as central to Ukraine’s long term security. With both leaders calling for a strong multinational force, the debate over what a post-war presence should look like is now at the forefront of diplomatic negotiations.