The Coalition of the Willing convened on July 10 via video conference between Rome and London, marking a pivotal moment in international coordination in support of Ukraine. The meeting took place alongside the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025, held at La Nuvola convention center in Rome, focused on rebuilding the country after more than three years of war.
From Rome, the call included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko. Joining from London, via NATO’s Northwood headquarters, were British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. For the first time, a U.S. delegation—led by General Keith Kellogg and Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal—took part in the Coalition’s discussions.
In his opening remarks, Zelensky welcomed the American presence. “It’s fantastic that you joined this format. Thanks also to President Trump—his signals are very important, and we’re counting on them,” he said, expressing confidence that the coalition would grow stronger. The Ukrainian president emphasized the urgent need for investment in air-defense systems and interceptor drones, underscoring that “investing in Ukraine means protecting Italy and Europe too.”
Prime Minister Meloni used her intervention to tie the Coalition’s political resolve to its economic impact in Rome, stating, “This is not just a conference for peace, but one for a future of stability and sovereignty for Ukraine. Western unity is essential.” She added that “deterrence is the only way to create space for diplomacy,” urging greater pressure on Moscow.
From London, Starmer and Macron echoed the call for enhanced sanctions against the Kremlin to compel its leaders to negotiate. In parallel, Chancellor Merz revealed that Germany was in talks with the United States to purchase Patriot missile batteries for delivery to Kyiv.
The Coalition meeting set the stage for a day that also saw economic determination take center stage. At the Ukraine Recovery Conference, more than 200 agreements were signed—40 of them with Italian companies—totaling around €10 billion. These deals reflected confidence in Ukraine’s productive capacity and institutional resilience.
Italy took the lead in several regions, notably Odessa, where it will restore damaged cultural heritage sites, as well as support water infrastructure and urban development. In Rome, memoranda were signed in areas ranging from gas and defense to civil aviation and housing reconstruction, cementing the role of firms such as Leonardo, Enav, Snam, Cdp, Sace, and Simest.
In the afternoon, Deputy Prime Minister Svyrydenko made a direct appeal to global investors: “Now is the right time to bet on the Ukrainian economy. The more resilient it becomes, the more effective reconstruction will be.” Kyiv has introduced a public guarantee program worth up to €1 billion to attract private capital, alongside an EU-backed fund aimed at mobilizing an additional €10 billion.
The U.S. delegation’s debut at the Coalition meeting sends an encouraging signal to the business community: a stronger political framework enhances investor confidence. In this convergence of defense and economic rebuilding, the Coalition is forging a path forward.
Since its inception in March 2025, the Coalition of the Willing has grown to include over thirty countries and is now seen as the strategic political complement to the Ramstein contact group.
