Macron and the security guarantees for Ukraine: The coalition of the willing and Germany's position

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Published on: September 5, 2025 / Updated on: September 5, 2025 – Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

Macron and the security guarantees for Ukraine: The coalition of the willing and Germany's position – Image: Xpert.Digital

Europe's new army for Ukraine? Macron's bombshell divides the West

### Ground troops for Ukraine: Why Chancellor Merz is putting the brakes on Macron's plan ### "Heated phone call" with Trump: How Europe's Ukraine plan angers the US ### Escalation after the war? This is why European soldiers could soon become "legitimate targets" ###

Turning Point 2.0: How Macron's "Coalition of the Willing" is now challenging NATO

A bombshell from Paris is putting the European security architecture to a new test: Following a summit on September 4, 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the formation of a "coalition of the willing," in which 26 states have agreed to send troops to Ukraine. This initiative is intended to ensure peace after a possible end to the war and is a direct response to the changed geopolitical situation under a re-elected US President Donald Trump. The plan envisages not sending combat troops to the front lines, but stationing peacekeepers in defined areas to safeguard Ukraine's sovereignty and send a clear strategic signal to Moscow.

But this push for European self-responsibility reveals deep rifts within the West. While Macron is pushing for a strong European defense, emancipated from the US, Germany, under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, is responding with strategic restraint. Berlin sets clear conditions for participation: First, the financing and armament of the Ukrainian army must be further expanded, and German involvement depends significantly on the role of the US and the outcome of negotiations.

The situation is further complicated by the attitude of external powers. In a phone call described as "heated," US President Trump accused the Europeans of continuing to fill Russia's war chest through oil deals and demanded more of their own contribution. At the same time, the Kremlin is responding with unequivocal threats: any foreign troop presence in Ukraine will be considered a legitimate target and destroyed. This initiative thus raises fundamental questions: Is this the beginning of a genuine European defense union or a high-risk maneuver? Can such a deployment succeed under international law and militarily without Washington's full support? And what role will Germany play at this crucial moment for the future of the continent?

Troops for Kyiv: Macron rushes ahead, Merz hesitates, Putin threatens – this is what is really behind it

What is behind Emmanuel Macron's announcement that 26 countries are ready to send troops to Ukraine to maintain peace?

This news of September 4, 2025, marks a significant turning point in European security policy and simultaneously raises fundamental questions about the future of transatlantic relations.

The emergence of the Coalition of the Willing

What is the background to this initiative and why did it come about now?

The so-called Coalition of the Willing, composed of approximately 35 predominantly European states, met in Paris on September 4, 2025, to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine after a possible end to the war. This meeting was not only a reaction to the ongoing military conflict, but also a strategic response to the changing stance of the United States under President Donald Trump.

What are the concrete goals of this coalition? According to Macron, 26 countries have formally committed to stationing troops in Ukraine as a backup force or to maintaining a presence on land, at sea, or in the air to strengthen Ukraine after the war and secure peace. However, this force is not intended to wage war against Russia, but rather to secure peace and send a clear strategic signal. The troops would be deployed within the framework of a ceasefire, not on the front line, but in geographical areas that are currently being defined.

What legal and international law basis lie behind such missions? Peacekeeping missions of any kind are not explicitly provided for in the UN Charter. The United Nations Security Council bears primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. If peacekeeping missions involve military action, they only comply with international law if the UN Security Council has granted the respective organization a corresponding mandate. A key principle of peacekeeping missions is that the parties to the conflict, or at least the government of the affected state, must consent to the deployment.

Germany's position and the role of Friedrich Merz

How does Germany position itself in this initiative?

The German stance is characterized by restraint and strategic caution. Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who participated in the conference via video link, emphasized through his spokesman Stefan Kornelius that the initial focus must be on financing, arming, and training the Ukrainian armed forces. Germany has become Kyiv's most important partner in this regard and is also prepared to expand this assistance.

What specific conditions does Germany impose for potential participation? Germany will decide on a military engagement in due course, once the framework conditions have been clarified. This concerns, among other things, the nature and extent of any US involvement and the outcome of a negotiation process. Stefan Kornelius also pointed out that the Bundestag has the final say in any Bundeswehr deployment. This constitutional requirement underscores democratic control over Bundeswehr missions abroad.

What does the appointment of Stefan Kornelius as government spokesperson mean for this policy? Stefan Kornelius, who has served as government spokesperson and head of the Federal Press Office since May 2025, brings extensive foreign policy experience. The former head of the politics department of the Süddeutsche Zeitung is considered extremely well-connected and is a member of numerous foreign and security policy think tanks. This expertise is of considerable importance for the complex challenges of current security policy.

How specifically does Germany plan to support Ukraine? According to media reports, the German government plans to increase the number and effectiveness of Ukraine's air defense systems by 20 percent annually. In addition, Ukraine is to be equipped with long-range precision weapons such as cruise missiles, which are manufactured domestically with financial and technological support from Germany, among others. Furthermore, Ukraine is to be provided with equipment for four mechanized infantry brigades, which would amount to an estimated 480 infantry vehicles per year.

The American role and Trump's attitude

What role does the US play in this European initiative?

US participation remains a critical factor for the success of the security guarantees. After the meeting, Macron announced that the US contribution to these security guarantees would be determined in the coming days. Following the meeting, there was a group call with US President Donald Trump, which, however, led to controversial discussions.

What criticism did Trump have of the European stance? During the phone call, Trump accused the Europeans of continuing to import oil from Russia despite their opposition to it, thereby supporting Putin's war effort. He called for an end to oil deals and more pressure on China. Media reports described the phone call with the Europeans as heated.

What expectations does Trump have of Europe? Trump has repeatedly made clear that Europe must take a greater role in its own defense. NATO member states have already agreed to increase their defense spending to five percent of their gross domestic product. This demand by Trump reflects his long-standing argument that European taxpayers should no longer have American taxpayers primarily paying for Europe's security.

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26 states, one goal: Paths to a new peace order in Europe

Russia's position and resistance

How does Russia react to these plans?

The Russian leadership categorically rejects any form of Western troop presence in Ukraine. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin declared during an appearance at the Vladivostok Economic Forum that a long-term peace agreement would not require any foreign troops in Ukraine. He threatened that if any military forces appeared, especially during ongoing hostilities, they would be considered legitimate targets and destroyed.

What justification does Moscow give for its rejection? Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov justified the rejection, which has already been expressed repeatedly, by arguing that the presence of foreign forces near the Russian border poses a threat to Moscow. NATO views Russia as an enemy and has enshrined this in its documents. Russian Foreign Minister Maria Sakharova also described the plans as a guarantee of insecurity for the European continent.

What are Russia's fundamental security concerns? Russia argues that when discussing security guarantees, not only Ukraine can be considered, but that Russia also needs guarantees for its security. The Russian position is that the war against Ukraine also has its roots in NATO's expansion to Russia's borders. Ukraine's security must not be ensured at Russia's expense.

International legal framework and security guarantees

What legal instruments are available for security guarantees?

The EU has its own mutual assistance clause in Article 42, paragraph 7 of the EU Treaty, which is even more strongly worded than Article 5 of the NATO Treaty. This clause states that in the event of an armed attack on the territory of a member state, the other member states owe it all the aid and assistance in their power. Unlike the NATO mutual assistance clause, which leaves it up to each state to decide on the type and extent of assistance, the EU regulation contains a more specific obligation to provide assistance.

How do NATO security guarantees work in practice? Article 5 of the NATO Treaty stipulates that an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all. However, this article does not create a legal right to assistance and military support. The determination of the NATO alliance case is not automatic, and NATO states decide by consensus with broad political discretion. An attacked NATO partner has no right to have the alliance case declared.

What alternatives to NATO membership are there? Ukraine's accession to the EU would automatically activate the EU mutual assistance clause, which experts believe is even more binding than NATO guarantees. Ukraine is already a candidate for EU membership and has been conducting accession negotiations since June 2024. EU accession would provide Ukraine with a military security guarantee without requiring NATO membership.

Europe rethinks: training mission instead of peacekeeping force in Ukraine

What practical challenges does a peace mission face?

According to military sources, a troop presence of European NATO states in Ukraine would be conceivable primarily as a large-scale training mission. It is not a peacekeeping force in the traditional sense. The European NATO members would assume primary responsibility for such a mission. The exact number of deployed soldiers and their specific tasks are still unclear.

What does this mean for European defense policy? The initiative represents a significant step toward strengthening European ownership of security policy. Given the uncertainty surrounding the American role under Trump, European states are called upon to expand their defense capabilities. NATO member states have already decided to increase their defense spending to five percent of GDP, an unprecedented increase since the Cold War.

What role does EU enlargement play in this context? Ukraine is undergoing an accelerated EU accession process, despite the ongoing war. One of Ukraine's most important integration goals for 2025 is the launch of parallel negotiations in all EU accession clusters. Bilateral screening talks in four of the six negotiation packages have already been completed. EU accession would automatically guarantee Ukraine the EU mutual assistance clause.

Coalition of the Willing: Europe's Path to Security Policy Independence

What factors will determine the success of this initiative?

The success of the coalition of the willing depends on several critical factors: the specific nature of American participation, the willingness of the participating countries to actually provide troops and resources, and the development of the military situation in Ukraine. Without substantial US involvement, particularly in areas such as air surveillance and reconnaissance, the deterrent effect against Russia is likely to remain limited.

What are the long-term implications for transatlantic relations? The European initiative for self-responsibility in security policy could lead to a fundamental reshaping of transatlantic relations. While Trump is pushing Europe toward greater self-responsibility, Europeans are increasingly embracing this challenge. This could lead to a more balanced, but also more complex, partnership between Europe and the United States in the long term.

What significance does this have for the future peace order in Europe? The initiative of the 26 countries represents an attempt to establish a new peace order in Europe that is less dependent on American leadership. At the same time, it signals to Russia that Europe is ready to assume responsibility for its own security. The success of this strategy ultimately depends on the creation of credible security guarantees that both act as a deterrent to Russia and provide Ukraine with the security necessary to achieve long-term peace and stability.

The developments surrounding the Coalition of the Willing thus mark a potential turning point in the European security architecture, the long-term effects of which are only likely to become apparent in the coming years.

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