ADVERTISEMENT
Russia’s strategy remains “anti-European” and the continent must be united in any other negotiations to stop the Moscow Total War in Ukraine, said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after meeting with the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on Sunday.
The meeting between the two comes as a series of European leaders announced that they would join his interviews with American President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday.
“It is crucial that Europe is also united as it was at the very beginning, that in 2022, when the large -scale war started,” said the Ukrainian chief at a joint press conference with Von Der Leyen.
“First of all, we have to stop the killings. Putin has many requests, but we don’t all know. And if there is really as much as we have heard, then it will take time to cross them all,” he said.
“Putin does not want to stop the murder, but he must do it,” said Zelenskyy, adding that it is necessary to have a cease-fire to start working on a final agreement to end the Russian war in Ukraine.
“Putin has many requests but we don’t know them all. And if there is really as much as we have heard, it will take time to cross them all. It is impossible to do it under the pressure of weapons,” said Zelenskyy, adding that this will be discussed in Washington.
It is therefore necessary to have a ceasefire and work quickly on a final agreement, “he concluded.
The American president initially declared that he was going to discuss a ceasefire with Vladimir Putin at their meeting in Alaska last Friday. He said the ceasefire would discuss the agreement to end the Moscow War against Ukraine.
But after the top of Alaska, Trump did not mention the possibility of a cease-fire and said that he would like to discuss the agreement immediately.
The European allies of kyiv and Ukraine fear that this would buy time to Russia to continue its attacks against Ukraine while leading to negotiations with the unrealistic maximalist requirements of the Kremlin, once again demonstrating its reluctance to arrest its war against Ukraine.
“We need real negotiations, which means that they can start where the front line is. The contact line is the best line to speak,” said Zelenskyy.
Von der Leyen: Ukraine must become a steel porcupine
European kyiv allies believe that solid security guarantees must be given to protect Ukraine and Europe, said Von Der Leyen.
In addition, Ukraine must be able to maintain its sovereignty and its territorial integrity, and it must not be limited to the Ukrainian armed forces.
“Ukraine must become a steel pork-epic, not digestible to potential invaders,” said Von Der Leyen on Sunday.
As for questions on any territorial concession, Von der Leyen was categorical about the fact that any decision remains only in the hands of Ukraine and the Ukrainians.
“Our position is clear: international borders cannot be modified by force; these are decisions to be made by Ukraine and Ukraine … and not without Ukraine at the table,” said the President of the Commission.
Meanwhile, Europe will continue to put pressure on the war economy of Russia, with “a new package in September,” she added.
Zelenskyy arrived in Brussels on Sunday for a meeting with Von Der Leyen before his trip to Washington on Monday.
The couple will also join the virtual meeting of the coalition of willingly, with the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the French president Emmanuel Macron and the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Before Sunday’s meeting, Von Der Leyen said she would join Zelenskyy at the White House on Monday to participate in his meeting with US President Donald Trump, at the request of the Ukrainian president.
The chairman of the commission noted that other European leaders would also join Reunion, but it is not yet clear if they will go to Washington or will join virtually.
Starmer announced that he would be present in Reunion with Trump, according to Downing Street.
The British Prime Minister “is ready to support this next phase of new talks and will reaffirm that its support for Ukraine will continue as long as it will be,” said his office in a statement.
Meanwhile, Berlin said Merz will also go to the American capital on Monday to join talks.
“The trip will serve as an exchange of information with American president Donald Trump after meeting Russian president Vladimir Putin in Alaska,” said the chancellor spokesman.
It is also believed that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The Italian media say that Meloni cut her vacation and returned to Rome on Sunday to prepare to go to the United States.
Macron, the secretary general of NATO Mark Rutte and Finnish president Alexander Stubb also confirmed their attendance.
The French president’s office said in a statement on Sunday that leaders will be there to ensure “coordination between Europeans and the United States in order to achieve a just and lasting peace which preserves the vital interests of Ukraine and the security of Europe”.
The Visit of the White House of Zelenskyy is the first dramatic force of February in the oval office between the Ukrainian leader, Trump and the American vice-president JD Vance.
He also comes after Trump’s Putin’s meeting with Putin in a military base in Alaska.
