Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala participated via videoconference in a meeting with the leaders of the so-called Coalition of the Willing hosted by the United Kingdom. The leaders discussed in particular ceasefire options, further military support for Ukraine and economic pressure on Russia. For the first time, US representatives also attended the meeting.

"Today was the biggest meeting yet within the Coalition of the Willing. More than thirty countries met, and for the first time even the United States took part in the meeting. If we want peace in Europe, we must not give in to aggressors. That is why we had a very specific debate on sanctions, on military supplies and, above all, on how to get Russia to agree to a ceasefire and to come to the negotiating table." said Prime Minister Fiala after the meeting.

The Coalition of the Willing, an informal group of countries supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia, has grown in size and importance. The July 10, 2025 meeting was pivotal because it included the US for the first time, signaling a shift in transatlantic coordination. The context is the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has caused enormous human and material losses since February 2022.

The US participation in the Coalition of the Willing may be a response to growing concerns among European allies about a possible weakening of US support for Ukraine, especially after the rise of Donald Trump's administration. In February 2025, Trump's meetings with Putin in Riyadh raised concerns that the U.S. might push for a ceasefire at the expense of Ukrainian interests. But US Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured that European allies would be included in peace talks.

Vlada.cz/gnews.cz - GH