European Leaders Unite to Support Ukraine Amid Ongoing Peace Talks

European leaders rallied behind Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday night, raising hopes for a potential breakthrough regarding the allocation of billions in frozen Russian assets for Ukraine. Despite strong support for Zelenskyy, who is under pressure from Donald Trump to cede territory to expedite the war's end, no conclusive agreement was reached on the contentious issue of converting immobilized assets into a loan for Kyiv. Downing Street reported that significant progress was made during crisis talks held in the UK, where Zelenskyy was joined by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, alongside leaders from seven other European nations, a senior representative from Turkey, and NATO and EU officials. The leaders underscored the critical need for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, which includes robust security guarantees against further Russian aggression. They agreed that this is a pivotal moment for Ukraine and committed to increasing support for Kyiv while augmenting economic pressures on Moscow to bring an end to what has been described as a barbaric war. This show of unity comes in response to President Trump's sharp criticism of Zelenskyy, who the former U.S. president claims has not fully grasped the U.S. proposal for a peace deal. Trump insisted, without evidence, that the Ukrainian people are in favor of the proposal and suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin is amenable to the terms. These discussions follow U.S. efforts aimed at pushing through a peace deal that has sparked significant concern, as many critics view it as disproportionally favoring Russia's positions. Downing Street is optimistic about finding a solution that would allow the confiscation of billions in Russian state assets held within European banks to support Ukraine's reconstruction. Since Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, over £180 billion of Russian assets have been frozen in European banks and financial institutions. EU leaders are slated to convene on December 18 and 19 to finalize a long-awaited proposal from the European Commission, which aims to convert £78 billion of these frozen assets into a reparations loan directed at Ukraine for the coming year. This unprecedented proposal operates on the premise that Moscow would ultimately compensates Kyiv for the extensive damage caused by the conflict. Kyiv would then utilize these reparations to repay the loan to the EU, ensuring that the financial entities holding the assets receive compensation. While a majority of EU nations support this plan, Belgium has exhibited strong resistance, particularly due to concerns that the Belgian government could face liability for any asset seizure and possible retaliation from Moscow. The UK government has indicated a willingness to transfer £8 billion worth of frozen assets to support Ukraine, contingent upon a coordinated effort with fellow European countries. UK Labour leader Keir Starmer is scheduled to discuss the situation on Friday with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, who is facing intensified pressure from other EU leaders regarding his opposition to the reparations loan initiative. In the meantime, British, French, German, and Ukrainian national security advisers have been tasked with continuing discussions on the U.S.-proposed peace plan this week. Zelenskyy has asserted that his country cannot sustain itself without ongoing support from European and American allies and has characterized the recent talks as productive, noting that they have made incremental progress toward peace. The Ukrainian-EU proposed plans for a peace agreement are expected to be ready for submission to the U.S. by tomorrow. U.S. officials have reported that they are nearing a final agreement, although there remains substantial doubt regarding both Ukraine and Russia's willingness to endorse the existing framework established by Trump's negotiating team. On the diplomatic front, UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper was anticipated to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for further discussions on Monday with the aim of reaffirming a mutual commitment to achieving peace in Ukraine. This series of discussions follows the recent release of the U.S. national security strategy, which outlines the Trump administration's core foreign policy priorities, including a desire to improve relations with Russia after years of diplomatic estrangement. It identifies ending the war as a crucial U.S. interest in reestablishing strategic stability with Moscow. Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for the Kremlin, indicated that the strategy document aligns largely with Russia's viewpoint, while also emphasizing that NATO should not pursue continuous expansion amid concerns regarding migration. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2