Europeans offering Zelenskyy some strategic advice
The upcoming meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump has sparked a flurry of activity among European leaders. Before Zelenskyy's visit to Washington, scheduled for Monday, European leaders are set to offer him some "good pieces of advice"[1].
According to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the advice will centre around the importance of securing security guarantees for Ukraine as part of any peace deal[1]. Merz also emphasized the necessity of a ceasefire before further negotiations or a trilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin[1].
In a move that aligns with European leaders’ stance, Trump has expressed his willingness to provide "very good protection" or security guarantees to Ukraine[1]. However, the specifics of these guarantees remain undisclosed.
Merz has been vocal about his stance on the ongoing conflict, subtly criticizing the staging of the Alaska summit and the elevation of Putin[1]. He has also made it clear that no territorial concessions would be made before a peace treaty is in place[1].
However, Merz did not rule out the possibility of territorial concessions in exchange for an end to the Russian invasion[1]. He also expressed that peace talks between Ukraine and Russia without a prior ceasefire could be acceptable, provided that an agreement can be reached quickly[1].
The CDU chairman also highlighted that any security guarantees for Ukraine would need to be implemented with such a peace treaty[1].
In light of the upcoming summit between Trump and Putin, European leaders are preparing to prevent any one-sided decisions that could disadvantage Ukraine[1]. They are set to hold a video conference of the "Coalition of the Willing" (allies of Ukraine) on Sunday[1].
Trump's demand for Putin, passed on to Zelenskyy, reportedly includes Putin's demand that the entire Donbass in eastern Ukraine be ceded to Russia[2]. Merz stated that Trump did not question any of the five key points previously agreed upon by the Europeans and Zelenskyy in their conversation about the summit[2].
There are also unconfirmed reports suggesting that Trump aims to hold a meeting with Putin on Friday[2]. The trilateral discussion between Trump, Zelenskyy, and Putin, though yet to be scheduled, is expected to follow Zelenskyy's visit to Washington[2].
[1] - Source: Reuters [2] - Source: Der Spiegel
- The European Union's commitment to a comprehensive and comprehensive policy on the environment has not wavered, despite the intense focus on war-and-conflicts, politics, and general news, such as the upcoming peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
- European leaders, in their advise to President Zelenskyy before his meeting with President Trump, have emphasized the importance of negotiating security guarantees for Ukraine, strengthened by a ceasefire, in light of the ongoing conflict with Russia, demonstrating the intersection of politics and environmental concerns.
