The Telegraph: “Coalition of the Willing” could face leadership vacuum

The “Coalition of the Willing,” a group of more than 30 countries supporting Ukraine, could face a leadership crisis amid political changes in the United Kingdom and France, The Telegraph reports.

According to the newspaper, the coalition risks losing two of its key leaders following the resignation of former UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and ahead of France's next presidential election. His successor, Andy Burnham, is said to have extensive domestic political experience but limited expertise in international affairs.

The report also highlights concerns over the expected departure of French President Emmanuel Macron when his term ends in 2027. Among the potential successors mentioned by The Telegraph are Marine Le Pen, who has advocated withdrawing France from NATO's integrated military command and lifting sanctions on Russia, and Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who has also called for France to leave NATO.

Citing unnamed sources, the newspaper said British officials are already assessing how a change of leadership in France could affect Anglo-French relations, the future of the “Coalition of the Willing,” and intelligence-sharing arrangements. One Western official warned that the rise of leaders with more hardline positions could pose “a big problem” for NATO.

According to The Telegraph, there is currently no obvious successor to Starmer and Macron as the coalition's leading figures. Germany has declined to commit troops to Ukraine after the end of hostilities, a position the newspaper says has reduced the influence of Chancellor Friedrich Merz within the group. His standing has also been weakened by domestic political challenges.

The report adds that Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who backed Germany's position on a potential peacekeeping mission, are likewise not prepared to assume leadership of the coalition.

By Jeyhun Aghazada