"Yesterday's meeting of the Coalition of the Willing was, on the surface, a show of resolve. Ukraine's partners gathered to discuss the long tail of this war: how to sustain Kyiv, how to shape credible security guarantees, and how to prepare for a future that, on paper at least, includes peace. The presence of Britain and France was central, not symbolic."
"Germany's role also loomed large. Under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Berlin has moved decisively to anchor itself as a core European security actor rather than a reluctant partner. Merz has been explicit about Germany's position, stating that "there must be no dictated peace" for Ukraine and that Europe must be prepared to shoulder responsibility for its own security. That clarity matters and something I've been raising for several years."
"Their presence signals that parts of the U.S. political ecosystem are testing lanes beyond formal diplomacy, probing what leverage might exist, what incentives could be floated, and how messaging might land in Moscow. Unfortunately, as seen repeatedly during the Trump era, commercial interests, reconstruction narratives, and deal-making have often risked taking precedence over human lives. Even the renewed discussion of firms such as BlackRock inevitably casts a shadow over proceedings, reinforcing concerns that money may once again come before people."
Ukraine's partners convened to plan long-term support for Kyiv, credible security guarantees, and preparations for a potential peace. Britain and France pursued advanced talks on defence cooperation, training, intelligence sharing, and post-war security scaffolding to deter further Russian aggression. Germany under Chancellor Friedrich Merz has shifted toward a core European security role and insisted there must be no dictated peace for Ukraine, urging Europe to shoulder its own security responsibilities. The attendance of Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner indicated unconventional U.S. political actors probing leverage and incentives. Commercial interests and firms like BlackRock raised concerns that money could take precedence over human lives. Skepticism persists that Vladimir Putin will accept a peace deal.
Read at London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
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