Several European countries are determined to support Ukraine’s defense for the long term.
The leaders of the most powerful European countries issued a joint statement in support of Ukraine following reports of a rift between US president Donald Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
European Support for Ukraine
The war in Ukraine seems to be at a pivotal point. The Russian forces are making slow but costly progress. The Ukrainian military is fighting hard but does not seem to have the resources to counterattack. The United States is changing tack repeatedly on the issue and does not provide the military assistance it used to.
In response to a reported rift between Trump and Zelenskyy, the leaders of eight European nations (the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Poland), as well as the head of the European Union, issued a joint statement in support of Ukraine.
The Europeans began by highlighting their points of agreement with the White House.
“We strongly support President Trump’s position that the fighting should stop immediately, and that the current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations. We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force,” the European leaders stated.
However, the European leaders cautioned, Russia is using stalling tactics to prolong the conflict and the suffering of millions in an attempt to better its negotiating position. Contrary to Ukraine, which relies on the continuous support of its allies and partners to continue fighting, Russia answers to no one and is able to wage war unperturbed by international or domestic political considerations.
“Therefore we are clear that Ukraine must be in the strongest possible position – before, during, and after any ceasefire. We must ramp up the pressure on Russia’s economy and its defence industry, until Putin is ready to make peace. We are developing measures to use the full value of Russia’s immobilised sovereign assets so that Ukraine has the resources it needs,” the statement continued.
The joint statement ended by saying that the European Council will meet later in the week, while the leaders of the “coalition of the willing” will gather together to discuss the specifics of the announced measures.
Several European countries have shown a determination to support Ukraine’s defense against Russia regardless of what the United States decides to do. The UK, in particular, has assumed a leadership role in the international effort to support Kyiv, providing weapon systems, munitions, money, and training to the Ukrainian forces.
US-Ukrainian Relations
Since coming to office, the Trump administration has changed tack several times on Ukraine.
Initially, the Trump administration stopped the generous military aid of the previous administration, while also urging Ukraine to sit down at the negotiation table. Then, the administration resumed some military aid and allowed NATO allies to send US-made weapons systems and munitions to the embattled nation. Thereafter, for the first time since the Russian invasion, the US president met Russian president Vladimir Putin in Alaska with high hopes that the summit would bring the almost four-year conflict to an end. It did not. The White House then changed tack once more and came out in full support of Ukraine, with Trump even saying that Kyiv could prevail and even liberate all of its Russian-occupied territory. Finally, in the latest episode of the saga, Trump urged Zelenskyy to accept the Russian terms and concede Donbas and Crimea to Russia.
It is still unclear whether Trump’s stance toward Ukraine is a negotiating ploy to bring the two countries to the negotiating table and end the bloodiest conflict on European soil since the end of World War II.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
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