Germany provides the most significant backing for Ukraine

The international community is taking a new approach to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with the formation of a coalition known as the "Coalition of the Willing". This group, comprising 35 heads of state and government from Europe, Canada, Australia, and Japan, is aiming to secure peace in Ukraine.

At the heart of this coalition are France and the United Kingdom, with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer leading the charge. Macron has proposed a series of summits, including a two-person meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj, followed by a four-person summit presumably with American and European representatives.

However, the role of the USA, which is not an official member of the coalition, remains unclear. While US special envoy Steve Witkoff has held confidential talks with European generals in the Paris Elysee Palace, President Joe Biden has not indicated a clear stance on the matter. Trump, his predecessor, had threatened that another approach may be necessary if Putin does not meet with Zelenskyy within two weeks, but it is uncertain how far he will meet European demands in the coming days.

Trump has, however, suggested the possibility of US involvement through the provision of fighter jets and missiles. There are also rumours of the US being present in Ukraine with mercenaries and private militias to protect American-Ukrainian agreements on the exploitation of rare raw materials.

Europe, on the other hand, has been a significant contributor to Ukraine's military aid. To date, Europeans have provided more military aid (95 billion dollars) than the US (75 billion dollars). Germany, in particular, has promised a significant increase in the delivery of weapons systems to Ukraine, including precision weapons or cruise missiles.

The exact composition of the European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine, pledged by the coalition of 26 countries in Paris, has not been detailed in the available sources. However, it is noted that European troops, possibly including German forces, could be stationed in Ukraine for peacekeeping purposes, reflecting a coalition effort from multiple European countries.

The Kremlin, however, has harshly rejected the idea of foreign peacekeeping troops in Ukraine, stating it would be completely unacceptable. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte reminded Moscow that Ukraine is a sovereign state, implying that it is not up to Moscow to decide who can be on Ukrainian soil.

As the coalition aims to finalize "American participation" in the next few days, the future of the Ukraine conflict may be on the brink of a significant shift. The outcome remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the international community is taking a more active role in the conflict, with Europeans gradually asserting themselves under, at least, American protection.