Other EU foreign ministers showing up for Monday’s summit underlined that the main focus is strengthening Ukraine and not discussing peace terms.
“It’s too early to speculate about” peacekeepers, said Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp.
Zelenskyy has been talking about a diplomatic solution next year “and it’s very important that between now and the moment that he believes negotiations could start … Ukraine is fully supported and that means military support, and that means support in the field of energy, energy infrastructure, it also means financial support,” Veldkamp said.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna also stressed that Russian leader Vladimir Putin “has not changed the goal” of the war he launched more than two years ago. Ukrainians “are not asking any kind of mission right now. They are asking [for] weapons. They are asking [for] air defense. They are asking [for] support. Let’s give it,” he said.
However, if peace talks do start, then Europe needs to be ready to help, he said. “Of course we need to discuss what will be the security guarantees if the peace will come and Europe must take part of that.”
During Monday’s meeting, ministers will also adopt the 15th package of EU sanctions against Russia, including measures targeting the “shadow fleet” used to ferry oil and gas in violation of sanctions against Moscow. The package will also penalize individuals and companies accused of helping the Kremlin secure banned technologies, as well as North Korean officials.
Swiss
