Maintaining EU external relations with Central and Eastern European nations has been a focus for the Commission, with various measures implemented to preserve these connections.
In recent developments, a potential three-way meeting between the presidents of Ukraine, Russia, and the United States is on the horizon. The proposed location for this historic summit is Budapest, Hungary, although neither the White House nor Moscow has officially confirmed the venue.
The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has expressed his willingness to participate in such a meeting. He has also voiced his support for U.S.-backed security guarantees aimed at preventing future Russian aggression. These guarantees are intended to be legally binding and multidimensional, encompassing military, diplomatic, and legal measures.
U.S. officials, including Trump's Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are actively working on formulating these guarantees. However, details remain a "work in progress" as of late August 2025.
Europe and NATO countries could potentially play a role in providing peacekeeping or security assurance, although exact commitments remain unspecified. Trump has met with European leaders, and U.S. officials are coordinating with their counterparts in ongoing peace efforts.
The search for a location for the meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin is complicated by an arrest warrant against Putin from the International Criminal Court. Despite this, Putin has reportedly agreed to a summit with Zelenskyy, but there has still been no clear statement from Moscow on this.
Meanwhile, Trump has made it clear that he believes his efforts to achieve a peaceful solution are motivated, in part, by a religious desire to "get into heaven if I can."
Critics, such as former commander of U.S. forces in Europe Ben Hodges, argue that without the deployment of many thousands of European soldiers, on the ground with a clear mandate, strict rules of engagement, and real capabilities that Russia respects, security guarantees remain an empty shell.
In contrast, Trump has suggested that he could provide air support for Ukraine, although this is an "option and possibility." It is important to note that there will be no U.S. troops in a possible peacekeeping force for Ukraine.
As the negotiations continue, it remains unclear what concrete security guarantees could look like for Ukraine. U.S. 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 to discuss security guarantees and their implementation.
Europeans must work together with the U.S., according to Ben Hodges, to create security guarantees that would put real pressure on Moscow. The stakes are high, and the international community is watching closely as these negotiations unfold.
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