Zelensky and 25 leaders meet in Paris as 500 coalition troops lead July 14 parade

On July 13‑14, Paris hosted a summit of the “Coalition of the Willing” to widen military and political backing for Ukraine. At least 25 heads of state and government, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, gathered at the Hôtel des Invalides and the Élysée Palace. The coalition, now comprising 35‑37 countries, discussed expanding air‑defence and anti‑missile cooperation, licensing weapons production in Ukraine and preparing a multinational force that could be deployed after a cease‑fire.

French President Emmanuel Macron used the occasion to announce a doubling of France’s defence budget over ten years and to unveil new defence initiatives and joint exercises. As part of the same weekend, 500 soldiers from coalition members will open the traditional July 14 military parade on the Champs‑Élysées, creating a record‑size procession of about 6,800 participants with Ukrainian units marching alongside French forces. The event is presented as a symbolic “wake‑up” of Europe and a demonstration of united pressure on Russia.