Europeans consult with Zelensky before change of power in the USA

War in Ukraine

Europeans consult with Zelensky before change of power in the USA

Shortly before Christmas, leading representatives of European NATO states will meet again with Ukrainian President Zelensky. Is it also about Donald Trump’s possible plans?

Top representatives of European NATO states held confidential discussions about the difficult situation in Ukraine and further options for support around a month before Donald Trump took office as US President. According to information from the German Press Agency, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the heads of state and government of Poland, Italy, Denmark and the Netherlands took part in the meeting in Brussels organized by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte late on Wednesday evening.

There was initially no further information on the course of the talks in Brussels and possible results during the night. However, Zelenskyj and other participants want to give 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 to negotiate. There are fears in Kiev that he could threaten Ukraine to stop military aid if it refuses. In turn, he could threaten Russian President Vladimir Putin to further expand military aid to Kiev if the Kremlin chief refuses to negotiate.

This raises the question for the European NATO states 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, but also the deployment of peacekeepers to secure a possible ceasefire. Zelenskyj said on Wednesday evening that in the short term Ukraine needed more air defense systems. It is also about security guarantees “both for today and for tomorrow”.