Zelenskiy Seeks Support from European Leaders Amid Uncertainty Over U.S. Aid
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has arrived in Brussels for a crucial meeting with NATO chief Mark Rutte and several European leaders to outline strategies in the ongoing war. This assembly comes at a time of heightened concern that President-elect Donald Trump may decide to withdraw U.S. support for Ukraine after assuming office next month.
The meeting scheduled for December 18 takes place as European leaders are recognizing the necessity to forge their own plans should Trump, who has indicated a desire to swiftly conclude the conflict, choose to eliminate support or compel Kyiv into concessions with Russian President Vladimir Putin to establish a ceasefire.
European leaders have unanimously asserted that only Ukraine has the authority to decide when to engage in negotiations with Russia. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reinforced this sentiment, stating that the primary goal is to safeguard Ukraine's sovereignty, expressing that the country should not be pressured into accepting an imposed peace. He described any conversation regarding ground troops—previously discussed by French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk—as untimely.
In earlier comments, Rutte stressed that Ukraine's allies need to prioritize augmenting arms supplies, saying, "The business at hand is to make sure that Ukraine has what it needs to prevent Putin from winning and for Ukraine to prevail." At the press briefing before the meeting, he refrained from elaborating on the mechanics of a potential ceasefire, preferring to concentrate on solidifying Ukraine's position.
Zelenskiy's arrival was marked by an urgent plea for increased military support, particularly air defense systems, to counteract relentless Russian attacks on Ukraine's power grid. He stated on social media that Europe must adopt a strong, unified stance to secure lasting peace.
The meeting convened by Rutte involves representatives from Germany, Poland, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, and key European Union institutions, while France and Britain are represented by their foreign ministers. Discussions are anticipated to touch on prospective security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire, alongside mechanisms for monitoring such a ceasefire—considering the deployment of an international peacekeeping force as one potential solution.
While NATO members have opted against an immediate invitation for Ukraine to join the alliance, speculation is rife that the establishment of peacekeepers could serve as a compromise. Rutte voiced intentions to discuss Ukraine’s military aid, particularly air defense, emphasizing the necessity for 19 additional air defense systems to secure the nation's energy infrastructure against Russian bombardments.
On the same day, Rutte announced the operational launch of a new NATO command in Wiesbaden, Germany, designed to oversee Western military aid coordination for Ukraine. This command, termed NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU), aims to ensure that support mechanisms remain intact in light of potential political shifts in the U.S.
"The NATO command in Wiesbaden for security assistance and training for Ukraine is now up and running," Rutte stated to reporters at NATO’s headquarters in Brussels. NSATU is expected to comprise approximately 700 personnel, encompassing troops located at NATO’s military headquarters in Belgium and at logistics sites in Poland and Romania.
Russia has vocally criticized the increase in Western military aid to Ukraine, asserting that such decisions could escalate tensions and provoke a broader conflict.
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