Peace and support for Zelensky: A European breakthrough for Ukraine in London. Von der Leyen: “Rearm the EU”

Brussels – A peace with solid guarantees for the future, new and even more unconditional support for Ukraine and its president, Volodymyr Zelensky, a major rearmament of the old continent: Europe is being called upon to respond to Donald Trump’s United States, and the whole new way of handling foreign policy in Washington creates a shockwave. Leaders gathered in London by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer rally around Zelensky after the attempt at humiliation endured across the ocean; that alone is a political fact of no minor importance. However, most importantly, there is a commitment to end hostilities to put the United States back in the game.

After all, the British prime minister acknowledged in the end-of-summit press conference that the United States remains “an indispensable partner for security” globally and regionally, and one cannot imagine doing everything without American input. The London summit raisef awareness that “Europe must take on the bulk of the work” to continue to support Kyiv militarily both now and even later, in case a future peace agreement, Starmer continued. From this perspective, the commitment is there.

The financial commitments

Financially, the UK is contributing with two different packages. The first, £2.26 billion (about 2.7 billion euros), through proceeds from frozen Russian funds. The goal is to help Kyiv with money useful to respond to the war and for the functioning of the state. The second aid package, £1.6 billion (about 1.9 billion euros) for the purchase of 5,000 anti-aircraft defense missiles manufactured in Belfast. The EU contribution is awaited, and the 27 member states plan to announce it at the extraordinary summit on Thursday (March 6).

The path to peace and the issue of sending soldiers

Peace talks begin in London. However, there were no details. The Franco-British initiative, with the involvement of Ukraine, aims to bring the matter to the attention of the United States.  In any case, Washington will continue to play a role in the negotiations. Indeed, the initiative also helps the EU, where Slovakia and, even more so, Hungary threaten vetoes at any conclusion of the European Council summit without a clear cease-fire commitment “Strong leaders make peace, weak leaders make war” is Hungarian prime minister’s message on the eve of the London summit, which everyone, or almost everyone, agrees with in this respect.

The real crux lies in post-conflict. The coalition of those willing- at present, the United Kingdom and France- would like to deploy  European soldiers as peacekeepers on Ukrainian soil. Italy, its Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and other leaders rejected this hypothesis. However, Starmer insists: “The goal is to keep the peace, and if we want to keep the peace, we have to defend it.”

Without going into the details, the president of the European Council insists on the need for conditions that will prevent new aggression in the future. “We must not repeat the mistakes of the Minsk Accords,” says Antonio Costa, referring to the understanding signed in 2015 to end the clashes in Donbas, which were never respected. In essence, there is a need for solid and trustworthy guarantees. In this sense, non-Ukrainian contingents supporting Ukraine appear to be the solution, although they are far from pleasing Moscow.

The EU rearms itself

In managing the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in a way that involves a greater EU defense engagement, the EU shows a change in pace. “We must rearm Europe as a matter of urgency,” EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, leaving Lancaster House. She then announced, “I will present the plan on March 6,” at the heads of state and government summit. She gives no clues but gives up two elements. The first concerns the space for public spending — and thus the loosening of the stability pact for defense. The second concerns European “air shields.”