The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, felt that Europeans and Americans were working towards the same objective of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and called on both parties to work hand-in-hand.
“Ukraine needs peace through strength. Europe wants peace through strength. And as President Trump has made clear: the United States is firmly committed to peace through strength”, she explained in a speech at the Munich Security Conference. “So I believe that by working together, we can deliver that just and lasting peace”, she added.
While some American comments in recent days have worried Europeans (see EUROPE 13579/4), Mrs von der Leyen felt that it had to be recognised that the EU, like the United States, want to see an end to the bloodshed and a just and lasting peace that leads to a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine.
When asked about the presence of the Europeans at the negotiating table, Mrs von der Leyen was very confident. “Absolutely, because Ukraine needs a just and lasting peace. (...) Others are observing whether we stick to our principles or abandon them. This is only possible with the European Union at Ukraine’s side”, she explained, raising the issue of security guarantees, but also of Ukraine’s accession process to the European Union, “prerequisites for a just and lasting peace”. “The answer is obvious”, she added.
On Friday in Munich, US Vice-President JD Vance said that Europe should participate in the negotiations alongside the United States, Russia and Ukraine: “Of course they should. Of course”, he explained to the media.
This reaction should reassure MEPs. On Friday, the members of ‘Informal Group of Friends of European Ukraine at the European Parliament’ called for “an urgent united reaction of the European Council and the Commission, clearly reiterating the position of the EU Member States and Ukrainian citizens: there can be no peace negotiations without the full participation of Ukraine and the EU”.
See the letter: https://aeur.eu/f/fiw
Continue European support until a just and lasting peace is achieved. Alongside her speech, Mrs von der Leyen, together with the President of the European Council, António Costa, promised at a meeting with the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, that they would continue to provide “continuous and stable support to Ukraine until a just, comprehensive and lasting peace is found”. Mr Zelensky felt that it was crucial to coordinate joint efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace.
“Such a peace would lead to a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine and would guarantee the security of Ukraine and Europe”, added Mrs von der Leyen and Mr Costa in the minutes of their meeting. They also expressed their desire to help Ukraine achieve a position of strength before any future negotiations and for Ukraine to benefit from solid security guarantees. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)