French President Emmanuel Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer took part in a videoconference of the “Coalition of the Willing” during their Northwood summit yesterday, with several other participants who were in Rome for the Ukraine donors conference. Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, was in Rome and took part in a first for Washington, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said. “I think this is a clear sign and a clear example of the unity that we’re continuing to work for, for Ukraine’s security and our security,” Meloni said.
According to AP, the success of the coalition of the willing’s future operation hinges on U.S. backup with airpower or other military assistance, but the Trump administration has made no public commitment to provide support while even current U.S. military support to Ukraine is in question.
German Chancellor Merz issued an impassioned plea to Washington, and Trump in particular, in his opening remarks. “Stay with us and stay with the Europeans,” he said. “We are on the same page and we are looking for a stable political order in this world.”
Kellogg responded in his own remarks, speaking in German and directing his remarks back to Merz, “Auf Deutsch, wir sind hier. In German, we are here,” he said.
