French President Emmanuel Macron will travel to London on Monday for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and the leaders of Britain and Germany, as European powers coordinate their positions on the war in Ukraine and ongoing U.S.-mediated negotiations.
Macron announced the visit in a statement on X, saying Ukraine “can count on our unwavering support,” and stressing that the discussions are part of efforts by the so-called Coalition of the Willing, a bloc backing long-term security commitments for Kyiv.
“The whole point of our efforts is to provide Ukraine with security guarantees, without which there can be no robust and lasting peace,” Macron said. “For what is at stake in Ukraine is also the security of Europe as a whole.”
Ahead of the London meeting, Macron sharply criticized the latest wave of Russian attacks targeting Ukraine’s energy and rail infrastructure. He said the strikes demonstrated that “Russia is locked into an escalatory approach and is not seeking peace.”
“We must continue to put pressure on Russia to force it to make peace,” he added.
Ukrainian officials reported widespread strikes overnight that disrupted the country’s electricity grid. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Saturday that the attacks forced nuclear power plants to scale back output as grids struggled to stabilize.
According to IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant—Europe’s largest—temporarily lost all off-site power during the bombardment. The facility switched to emergency systems until external electricity was restored.
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Monday’s meeting in London comes as discussions continue on the next phase of U.S.-mediated negotiations aimed at shaping Ukraine’s long-term security architecture and the conditions for a potential settlement.
Western officials say talks have centered on strengthening military support for Kyiv, defining security guarantees, and coordinating diplomatic pressure on Russia, which continues large-scale missile and drone attacks across Ukraine.
Macron has repeatedly emphasized that Ukraine’s future security must be anchored in binding commitments from its partners. Washington, London, Paris, and Berlin have each announced bilateral security frameworks with Kyiv since early 2024.
European governments have warned that Russia may intensify strikes on infrastructure during the winter to weaken Ukraine’s energy system. Monday’s meeting is expected to address additional air-defense support, long-term funding stability, and strategies for countering Russia’s escalation.
Macron’s visit marks the latest in a series of high-level diplomatic consultations among Ukraine’s key backers as the conflict approaches its third year.
