French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that 26 countries had promised to send troops or provide other military assistance to Ukraine after the war ends in a bid to guarantee security in the country.Macron’s announcement came after a meeting of the so-called “coalition of the willing” in Paris on Thursday.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listSo what is the coalition, what has it announced, and how have Ukraine and Russia reacted?What is a ‘coalition of the willing’?A coalition of the willing is a temporary international group created to solve a specific issue or achieve a particular military or political goal.This coalition comprises countries that share the common goal of providing Ukraine with security guarantees. They are predominantly European nations, but also include Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Canada.The coalition was first announced by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer last March.Back then, Starmer said the coalition would comprise countries that are willing to join forces and devise a sustainable peace plan for Ukraine, to take effect after a peace deal is signed.What was agreed at the meeting in Paris?Leaders of 35 countries attended the meeting. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen were among leaders to attend in person, while others attended online.In Paris on Thursday, 26 coalition members agreed to send troops or provide other assistance to Ukraine after its war with Russia is over. Advertisement “We have today 26 countries who have formally committed – some others have not yet taken a position – to deploy a ‘reassurance force’ in Ukraine, or be present on the ground, in the sea or in the air,” Macron told reporters after the meeting.Macron did not name the 26 countries, nor did he specify the number of troops that would be deployed.“We are ready, we the Europeans, to offer …
