The leaders of the European Union (EU) countries will try on Thursday to refine their strategy on Ukraine during their last summit before Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
Rarely, the French President, Emmanuel Macron, will not participate in this European meeting: he flew Wednesday evening to Mayotte, devastated by Cyclone Chido. He will be represented at the table of Twenty-Seven by the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, according to established practice.
The other heads of state and government will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the morning to reaffirm their support. “Our friends, and even more so our enemies, will be watching closely how we continue to support Ukraine. Our support must therefore be unwavering”warned the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on Wednesday.
“It is very important to use these two days in Brussels to meet all our partners and have the same common position of Europe, which is very important, (…) on how to secure Ukraine, strengthen our people and, of course, our army »declared Mr. Zelensky. He participated with other European leaders, including those of Germany, Italy and Poland, in a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
“We must do whatever is necessary now to ensure that when it comes to air defense and other weapons systems, we deliver everything we can.”declared the boss of the Atlantic Alliance.
Before Donald Trump takes office in the United States on January 20, Europeans are seeking to send at least two messages: “No decision on Ukraine without Ukraine”et “no decision concerning Europe without Europeans”according to diplomats in Brussels.
The American billionaire promised to bring peace to Ukraine “in twenty-four hours”arousing the concern of Europeans, who fear being sidelined, and of kyiv, which does not want peace “forced”.
The priority is that Ukraine “do not be forced to accept a peace that would be dictated to her”underlined the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, upon his arrival in Brussels. And while waiting for these possible peace negotiations, the Europeans also want to ensure that Ukraine will be in a position of strength.
The Europeans promise at least 30 billion in financial aid to Ukraine in 2025, a large part of which will allow it to buy weapons, diplomats assure. They also want to help Ukraine get through the winter while Russia is shelling its energy infrastructure day after day. “The most immediate challenge concerns Ukraine’s energy system”recalled Mme von der Leyen.
