Germany Europeans consult with Zelensky before change of power in the USA
Around a month before Donald Trump's inauguration as US President, top representatives of European NATO states have held confidential talks on the difficult situation in Ukraine and further support options. According to the German Press Agency, the meeting organized by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels late on Wednesday evening was attended by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the heads of state and government of Poland, Italy, Denmark and the Netherlands.
19.12.2024, 02:05
SDA
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, the foreign ministers from France and the UK as well as EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President António Costa also attended. Selensky is also due to attend an EU summit meeting this Thursday as a guest.
There was initially no further information on the course of the talks in Brussels or possible outcomes during the night. However, Zelensky and other participants intend to hold press conferences at the EU summit on Thursday.
The background to the informal meeting in Rutte's Brussels residence was the difficult military situation for the Ukrainian armed forces in the east of the country and the scenario that Trump, as US President, could try to pressure Ukraine and Russia into negotiations. There are fears in Kiev that he could, for example, threaten to cut off military aid to Ukraine if it refuses. In turn, he could threaten Russian President Vladimir Putin to increase military aid to Kiev once again if the Kremlin leader refuses to negotiate.
For the European NATO states, the question therefore arises as to how Ukraine could be put in a position to conduct possible peace negotiations with Russia from a position of strength. In this context, new arms deliveries are being discussed, as well as the deployment of peacekeeping troops to secure a possible ceasefire. Selenskyj said on Wednesday evening that Ukraine primarily needed additional air defense systems in the short term. Security guarantees were also needed "both for today and tomorrow".
