On Thursday 18 December, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for strong security guarantees to protect his country from any further Russian aggression. New peace negotiations are due to be held this weekend in Miami, in the United States.
“The end of the war as a whole, and not just the end of the territorial conflict, is linked to security guarantees. Ineffective security guarantees do not mean the end of hostilities. This is a kind of pause, and when Russia decides to attack again, it will do so”, the President explained at a press conference in Brussels during the European Council.
While European and American leaders are said to have committed themselves on Monday, in a declaration signed only by Europe, to security guarantees for Ukraine (see EUROPE 13774/27), Mr Zelensky explained that he did not know what guarantees the United States could provide. “There’s one question I still can’t get an answer to [...]. The question concerns all the safety guarantees”, he explained.
“What will these safety guarantees do? How will it work? How will all the partners work together? How and with what force will they stop Moscow? In practical terms? It seems to me that we need an answer to this question [...], and that it should be recorded in the documents”, he added.
In their conclusions, adopted in 25 format, the European leaders emphasise that the EU and its Member States are ready to contribute to “solid and credible” security guarantees for Ukraine, notably within the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ and in cooperation with the United States. “This contribution will include support for Ukraine’s ability to deter aggression and defend itself effectively. It will be based on their respective skills and capabilities and will comply with international law”, they add.
Speaking to the media, the Ukrainian President reiterated that his country’s membership of the European Union was a guarantee of security. According to a European source, during their debate, the leaders stressed that accession was a crucial element in the peace negotiations. “Support for a prosperous and democratic Ukraine within the EU is essential to the EU’s contribution to peace and security in Ukraine”, the source added.
In their declaration, the EU25 do not link accession to security guarantees, but reaffirm the EU’s unwavering support for the accession process. This support has been thwarted by the Hungarian blockade. “EU membership can be accelerated. It depends on our actions and those of the [European] leaders, provided they are not blocked politically. In other words, if membership is linked to laws, changes, reforms, etc., I understand this logic. On the other hand, if it is blocked politically, I don’t understand”, explained Mr Zelensky, referring to the Hungarian blockage. While the peace plan envisaged accession in 2027, on his arrival at the European Council, the Lithuanian President, Gitanas Nausėda, once again stressed that the objective was entry in 2030.
Financing Ukraine to put pressure on Russia. On their arrival at the summit, the President of the European Council, António Costa, and several European leaders expressed the view that an agreement on European funding for Ukraine over the next two years would strengthen Kyiv’s negotiating position (see other news). “This decision is crucial to ensure that Ukraine is in a strong position in the peace negotiations, and it is the best contribution we can make to achieving a just peace as quickly as possible”, explained Mr Costa.
While maintaining pressure on Moscow with the promise of new sanctions, French President Emmanuel Macron said that it would be “useful again” to talk to Russia. "“There are people who talk to Vladimir Putin. So we – Europeans and Ukrainians – have an interest in finding the right framework to re-engage in this discussion in a proper manner. Otherwise, we are discussing among ourselves with negotiators who are going alone to talk to the Russians. That is not optimal”, he explained at the end of the summit.
Recalling that a cycle of discussions was underway, he specified that either “a robust, lasting peace with all the necessary guarantees can be achieved and, (then) in any case, we will sit down at the table with everyone at that point” “or we will have to continue (...) to help Ukraine in the coming weeks to find ways and means for Europeans, in the right organisation, to re-engage in a full dialogue with Russia in complete transparency and in association with Ukraine”.
See conclusions of the EU25: https://aeur.eu/f/k3m et conclusions of the European Council : https://aeur.eu/f/K3L (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant with the editorial staff)