European leaders see "a real opportunity" for peace in Ukraine

BerlinGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other European leaders on Monday hailed the "significant progress" in negotiations on Ukraine, following two days of intense and productive talks in Berlin between Ukrainians, Americans, and Europeans. In a joint statement, European leaders They thanked US President Donald Trump for his efforts to "guarantee a just and lasting peace in Ukraine" that preserves "Ukraine's sovereignty and European security."

A Ukrainian delegation met on Sunday and again on Monday in Berlin with President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner to try to advance a lasting peace in UkraineThe Russians did not participate in the meetings. "These talks are always complex, they haven't been easy, but they have been productive," explained Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the German-Ukrainian Business Forum, which he attended alongside Merz. Nine European presidents and heads of government traveled to Berlin this afternoon to support Zelensky, as well as the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Council, António Costa, and NATO Secretary General Mark RutteThe meeting was notable for the presence of Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Giorgia Meloni, and Donald Tusk, as well as the absence of Pedro Sánchez.

Announcements from the meeting

Europeans and Americans pledged in Berlin to "work together to provide robust security guarantees and support measures for Ukraine's economic recovery in the context of an agreement to end the war." They expressed their willingness to provide "sustained and significant support" to Ukraine to build its armed forces, which should be maintained at a peacetime level of 800,000 personnel, "in order to deter conflict and defend Ukraine's territory."

They also announced the creation of a "multinational force for Ukraine," led by Europe and supported by the US, to "help regenerate Ukraine's forces, ensure the security of Ukrainian airspace, and strengthen maritime security, including through operations within Ukraine." Furthermore, they foresee the implementation of a "ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism," led by the US and with international participation, to "provide early warning of any future attacks and attribute and respond to any violations."

Despite the progress made in Berlin, European leaders acknowledged that "nothing is agreed until everything is agreed" and considered that all parties must work intensively to find a solution that can guarantee an end to the fighting. The ball is now in Russia's court, which must demonstrate its willingness to work "towards a lasting peace" and accept President Trump's peace plan and a ceasefire, according to the Europeans.

Optimism about a peace agreement

Merz, the host of the meeting, expressed optimism about the possibility of reaching a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia soon. The foreign minister sees, "perhaps for the first time" since the outbreak of war following the Russian aggression in February 2022, "a real opportunity" for peace in Ukraine, even though an agreement with Moscow has not yet been reached. The foreign minister asserted that Witkoff and Kushner have played a key role in this process. "Without their tireless efforts and without President Trump's commitment, we wouldn't have the positive momentum we are experiencing here right now," the foreign minister added. The Ukrainian president, for his part, stated that the US negotiators are open to the possibility of Washington offering Kyiv security guarantees. similar to those offered to NATO member countries by the Atlantic Alliance treatyThe Berlin meeting took place the day before the European Council. The EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, acknowledged that reaching an agreement this week on the plan to use frozen Russian assets for financing in Ukraine will be difficult. Belgium, Italy, Malta, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic oppose it.