Europe is focusing on securing commitments for Kyiv; no American military personnel involved
The international community is witnessing a surge in efforts to provide security guarantees for Ukraine, following a series of high-level meetings and discussions.
US President Donald Trump has proposed a two-meeting plan, involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj and Kremlin leader Putin, followed by a three-way meeting with Trump's participation. This proposal comes after the initial agreement by Trump to support security guarantees, although the details remain open after their meeting in Washington.
Trump's proposal is not the only initiative underway. EU Council President António Costa has spoken of increasing momentum regarding security guarantees for Ukraine, calling for efforts to be accelerated. Germany and its partners are also working on these guarantees, with British Prime Minister Starmer announcing that representatives of the "coalition of the willing" will meet with their US partners to specify the security guarantees for Kyiv.
The United States is ready to support allies in securing a possible peace, for example from the air. Trump's plans include the potential deployment of troops from NATO countries, a move that Russia currently rejects.
The German government has hailed the Ukraine summit in Washington as a historic meeting, stating that the dynamics of the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska have been reversed, with Trump now largely aligning himself with the position of the Europeans. This shift in alignment has been further emphasised by Putin's agreement to a bilateral meeting with Zelenskyj within the next two weeks, according to German government circles.
However, not everyone agrees on the steps to be taken. There is disagreement over whether an immediate ceasefire is necessary as a precondition for peace talks. Trump dropped this key demand after the Alaska summit with Putin, but Chancellor Merz still insists on it.
France, too, has weighed in on the matter, with President Macron warning against rushing into a peace treaty without solid guarantees. The discussions about security guarantees and the deployment of peacekeeping troops are expected to take place in the coming days, likely this week.
Trump expects Germany, France, and the UK to be ready to send soldiers to Ukraine to secure a possible peace. Meanwhile, Selenskyj has suggested that they should meet without any preconditions, indicating that he is not insisting on a ceasefire before a meeting with Putin.
Europe as a whole should participate in providing security guarantees for Ukraine, with the details of the German contribution yet to be determined. The UK is also yet to reveal its specific role in these efforts.
As the international community works towards a peaceful resolution, the initial public reaction from Russia has been muted. Foreign Minister Lavrov stated that all contacts involving heads of state must be prepared with great care.
In the midst of these developments, the protection promises based on Article 5 of the NATO treaty have been discussed at the meeting with Zelenskyy, European political leaders, and Trump. The discussions about security guarantees and the deployment of peacekeeping troops are expected to continue in the coming days, as the world watches with bated breath for a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
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