Macron says Europe has stepped up in NATO ahead of Ukraine coalition summit

France's President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday he would use a summit of Ukraine's allies next week to unveil new defence initiatives and joint

military exercises, presenting the gathering as further evidence that Europe was assuming greater responsibility for its own security.



More than seven years after declaring NATO was suffering from "brain death", Macron said at the alliance's annual summit in Ankara that Europe had shown it was investing more in defence, defending its sovereignty and developing strategic autonomy within NATO.



The July 13 meeting, expected to bring together around 35 leaders of the Coalition of the Willing, will focus on tackling Russia's shadow fleet, new military capabilities for Ukraine, greater mobilisation of defence industries and deeper operational cooperation among Kyiv's backers, Macron said.



A long-time champion of European strategic autonomy, Macron argued that Russia's war in Ukraine and uncertainty over long-term U.S. military commitments had accelerated Europe's efforts to build up its own defence capabilities while remaining anchored within NATO.