BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Heads of state and government of European Union (EU) member countries plan to send a “clear signal” to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on their support for Ukraine during a summit organized Thursday in Belgium.
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenksy will be received at the opening of the talks, which will be held in Brussels, and EU leaders will reiterate their “unwavering commitment” to supporting Kyiv “as long as necessary”, a draft shows conclusions.
Donald Trump is calling for a quick negotiated outcome to the conflict sparked by Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“Russia cannot prevail,” the EU draft conclusions said, adding that no initiative should be launched on the Ukraine issue without Kyiv participating.
A European diplomat said the draft text sent “a clear signal to the United States”.
The question of relations between the EU and the United States will also be addressed, while Donald Trump said that the EU, which according to him does not buy enough American goods, would pay “a heavy price”.
The US president-elect has already pledged to impose significant tariffs on products from Canada, Mexico and China.
UNIT
Some European diplomats said unity would be paramount and that it would be necessary to avoid unilateral discussions or agreements between the United States and any of the EU member countries.
“The United States could try to lead individual negotiations, but I have not yet seen any country taking the bait,” said a diplomat.
The EU will emphasize that it is the second largest trading partner of the United States, and a close ally sharing the same values.
European officials, however, raised the possibility of offering to buy more liquefied natural gas or weapons from the United States.
The issues of China and Britain will also be discussed in a lunchtime debate on “the EU and the world”.
(Philip Blenkinsop, Lili Bayer, Jan Strupczewski, Kate Abnett et Andrew Gray; version française Camille Raynaud)
