Ukraine’s allies to meet in Berlin next week

Germany is set to host Ukraine’s allies for a “Coalition of the Willing” summit on Nov 19, a government spokesman confirmed on Friday.

French president Emmanuel Macron and British prime minister Andy Burnham are expected to attend the Berlin meeting, which comes amid a renewed diplomatic effort to end the war in Ukraine.

More than 20 heads of state and government are expected, said German chancellor Friedrich Merz.

“Our goal is to achieve two things: first, to secure funding for Ukraine’s defence for 2027 and, second, to reach a unified position regarding upcoming peace talks.”

Russian and Ukrainian envoys met in Abu Dhabi this week for talks mediated by the US.

While there have been few signs of concrete progress, Washington has indicated it wants European countries at the negotiating table, a position which Moscow has so far rejected.

Russia instead hopes to link the end of the war in Ukraine to the negotiation of a new European security architecture.

Germany is among Kyiv’s most important military, financial and humanitarian supporters, and Merz has repeatedly underscored his backing for the country.