Maintained connections with Central and Eastern European nations in the EU's overseas endeavors have been reinforced through various measures taken by the Commission.
In a series of developments, the stage is being set for a significant three-way summit involving US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to White House confirmations, Putin has agreed to a summit with Zelensky, although there are still no clear words from Moscow on this matter. The proposed location for the meeting is the Hungarian capital, Budapest, although this has yet to be officially confirmed.
Trump has been vocal about his intentions for a peaceful resolution in Ukraine, stating that he is "trying to get into heaven if possible." White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump meant this statement seriously and wants to achieve a peaceful solution. However, the President did not elaborate on how his religious motivation would influence his approach to the situation in Ukraine.
In terms of potential contributions to a possible peace mission, Trump spoke vaguely, not specifically naming any countries. He did mention, though, that the USA could provide support in the air for a peacekeeping force. Leavitt clarified this statement as an "option and possibility."
The former commander of U.S. forces in Europe, Ben Hodges, has suggested that thousands of European soldiers are necessary for an effective protection of Ukraine. He also proposed that the Europeans would have to work together with the USA to create security guarantees that would put real pressure on Moscow.
Meanwhile, the White House confirmed that US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine will receive visits from his colleagues from Germany, the UK, France, Finland, and Italy this week. It is unclear whether these discussions will touch upon the potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.
The summit, if it goes ahead, is planned to follow a meeting between Zelensky and Putin. The details of this meeting are yet to be disclosed, due to the confidentiality of the conversations. Putin is said to have proposed Moscow as a location for the meeting with Trump, but Leavitt did not want to comment on this.
Trump has said he had "very successful" meetings with both Zelensky and Putin in the past, raising hopes for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However, the path to peace is still uncertain, and much depends on the forthcoming discussions between the three world leaders.
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