European Leaders to Try to Hammer Out Ukraine Support Plans

European leaders will convene in Paris on Thursday to shore up support for Ukraine, a “coalition of the willing” that wants to help the war-torn country fight back against Russia despite wavering American commitment, and safeguard an eventual peace.France and Britain have been spearheading those efforts, which led to a first meeting in Paris in February and a second one in London earlier this month, as well as gatherings of top military chiefs.Over 30 officials are expected to attend the meeting on Thursday, mainly European heads of state and government as well as top European Union representatives.Who is willing to do what in this coalition, however, is still unclear, especially at a time when low growth and high debt are complicating the equation for European countries trying to spend more on their militaries.The biggest question mark is the idea of a potential “reassurance force” of European troops stationed in Ukraine once the conflict ends, to prevent Russia from repeating its 2022 invasion.

Britain and France floated the idea, but so far no other country has committed troops to such a force, which is still largely undefined and which Russia has called unacceptable.Even so, French officials say, the summit meeting shows that efforts by President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain to mount a joint European response are paying off.“We are and will remain resolutely at Ukraine’s side,” Mr.Macron said at a news conference on Wednesday evening, after a meeting in Paris with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine.

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