Neighboring countries to Ukraine will host military exercises in the coming months as part of planning for a multinational force intended to deploy after a ceasefire with Russia, President Emmanuel Macron announced in Paris on Monday.
Macron made the announcement at a press conference concluding the Coalition of Volunteers summit, which brought together representatives from 37 nations and included the presence of Volodymyr Zelensky, German chancellor Friedrich Merz, and British prime minister Keir Starmer. The exercises will take place on land, at sea and in the air to demonstrate that allies are “prepared, determined and credible” in their support for Kyiv.
Macron emphasized that the mission will be strictly defensive and will not serve as a mechanism to monitor a ceasefire; rather, it will aim to ensure a ceasefire’s durability, support the rebuilding of Ukrainian armed forces, and help restore maritime traffic and air connections. Military planning has been completed under the coordination of participating chiefs of staff, and the headquarters is working to convert those plans into operational capabilities.
Coalition members — including Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Norway and Spain, among others — stated that the Multinational Force for Ukraine (MNF-U) “is ready to operate and act to rebuild Ukrainian forces and provide security for Ukraine within its territory.”
On a bilateral level, Macron confirmed a roadmap with Kyiv that includes the delivery of Rafale fighter jets and associated weapons systems to modernize Ukraine’s combat aviation. Initial deliveries are scheduled for 2028–2029, while pilot training will begin in the coming months, alongside the provision of new missile batteries, radars and ammunition to strengthen the country’s air defenses.
At the same time, the European Union is preparing a new package of sanctions targeting the Kremlin’s banking and financial sectors, its military‐industrial complex, and the networks used to evade existing restrictions. Macron also outlined stepped‐up operations against the so‐called “ghost fleet” used to export hydrocarbons in violation of sanctions. Spain, the United Kingdom and Sweden will continue to expand these measures in coordination with France; Paris will host a ministerial meeting in September to coordinate next steps.
“The history of our continent has taught us the consequences of giving in to aggression, and we will not make that mistake again,” Macron warned, describing support for Kyiv as “an investment in European security.”
The July 14 national day parade will feature representatives of the Coalition of Volunteers and Ukrainian military personnel as a sign of that cooperation. European Council President António Costa also indicated that a new negotiating cluster in Ukraine’s EU accession process will be opened on the same day.
(With information from EFE and Europa Press)