Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy outlined significant discussions on peace negotiations during the recent European summit on Ukraine. The summit, held on March 2, 2025, focused on security guarantees and laid the groundwork for future collaborations with the United States. Posting on Telegram, Zelenskyy noted, “We are preparing important meetings and decisions soon,” highlighting the urgency of these discussions.
During the summit, convened by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, leaders from Germany, France, Poland, and other nations converged to strategize on how best to support Ukraine, whose sovereignty has been under severe threat due to the Russian invasion. Zelenskyy emphasized the remarkably high level of unity among European nations, stating, “The unity of Europe is at an extraordinarily high level, which has not been seen for quite some time.” His remarks came amid concerns from Estonia and Lithuania leaders about their exclusion from the summit.
The absence of the Baltic states prompted some diplomatic unease, with Lithuanian advisor Asta Skaisgiryte-Liaushkene expressing dissatisfaction. Nonetheless, the emphasis remained on building reliable cooperation with the US for genuine peace and guaranteed security.
The summit also featured significant commitments from leaders, with the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calling for the urgent rearmament of Europe, promising to present concrete proposals to increase defense spending at the upcoming EU summit scheduled for March 6, 2025. She stated, “EU member states need greater fiscal space to sharply increase defense spending,” indicating the necessity for enhanced military capabilities amid the continuing conflict.
Specifically, the UK pledged £1.6 billion ($1.94 billion) for the procurement of British-made anti-aircraft missiles for Ukraine. Prime Minister Starmer assured participants of the summit of the commitment to sustain military support for Kyiv, emphasizing the need for Ukraine's presence at any peace negotiations. “We will form a coalition willing to defend any agreement concerning Ukraine and guarantee peace,” he declared, reiteratively mentioning the potential deployment of British peacekeepers to Ukraine.
Conversely, the Polish Prime Minister Donal Tusk remarked post-summit about the prevailing disarray. He sensed “a feeling of chaos” among EU leaders, indicating the need for clearer strategic planning and unity, especially concerning how to approach negotiations with Russia. Tusk criticized the lack of cohesion among European allies about frozen Russian assets, reflecting the complexity of EU politics, where differing national interests can hinder collective action.
Compounding the discussions, the summit definitively endorsed the continuation of military conflict until adequate security guarantees for Ukraine are established. Starmer firmly stated, “Russia must not dictate the terms of peace talks about Ukraine,” emphasizing the need to approach negotiations with strength rather than passively accepting Russian conditions.
While Starmer suggested the UK, France, and others will collaborate with Ukraine on plans to end hostilities, Macon and Tusk stressed the need for systematic peace strategies devoid of Russian involvement during initial negotiations. They propose the need for documented peace agreements before deploying any foreign peacekeeping forces, ensuring these measures are taken at the right time to avoid increasing tensions on the ground.
Ursula von der Leyen’s statements post-summit conveyed urgency for increased military armament across the continent. “All Europeans must contribute to defense and push for progress in arms manufacturing,” she asserted, outlining her intention to propose changes to European budgetary norms to facilitate greater investments for defense sectors among member states.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has taken a staunch stance against the summit's resolutions, advocating instead for dialogues of peace with Russia. “They decided Ukraine must continue the war. This is wrong and dangerous,” he articulated, stressing the humanitarian crisis birthed by the prolonged conflict. According to Orbán, Ukraine has been left ravaged: “Countless have perished, leaving numerous orphans and widows, and many live as refugees.”
With contrasting views on the war within Europe itself, the debates continue on how best to support Ukraine. While some leaders push toward militarization and maintaining pressure on Russia, others like Orbán call for immediate humanitarian dialogues and ceasefires, highlighting the fractured European approach to Ukraine's crisis.
The repercussions of these diplomatic engagements will shape Europe's collective response to the Ukrainian crisis, underscoring the complexity of international relations involved and potentially defining the future security framework of Eastern Europe.