EU Will Take Center Stage in Ukraine Conflict
The European Union is expected to take a more active role in helping Ukraine resist Russian aggression. This change comes after US President-elect Donald Trump signaled that he wants the US to reduce its involvement in the conflict.
Trump reportedly told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron during their meeting in Paris that he wants Europe to take the lead in deterring Russian aggression. He also suggested that European troops could monitor a potential ceasefire in Ukraine.
The Wall Street Journal reported on December 12 that Trump made these comments during his meeting with Zelensky and Macron on December 7.
Zelensky reportedly told Trump that “peace needs guarantees because a ceasefire alone isn’t enough.” This comment suggests that the Ukrainian president wants more than just a temporary pause in fighting before entering into negotiations with Russia.
Macron has been pushing for Europe to take a more active role in resolving the conflict. He visited Poland on December 12 to discuss sending soldiers to Ukraine after a potential ceasefire deal is reached.
However, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk dismissed speculation about deploying peacekeepers, saying that Poland is “not currently planning such actions.”
Other European countries, including the UK and France, are considering sending peacekeepers to Ukraine in case of a ceasefire. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has also not ruled out this possibility.
Ukraine’s President Zelensky said on December 9 that his country may consider deploying foreign peacekeepers, but only after securing a clear timeline for NATO membership.
Andriy Yermak, head of the Presidential Office, said on December 12 that Ukraine is currently not prepared to enter negotiations with Russia as it lacks sufficient Western support.
Zelensky is expected to meet with European Union and NATO leaders at an EU summit in Brussels on December 19.