EU leaders open to Ukraine talks with just a ‘reduction of hostilities’

Brussels – Peace negotiations, even in the case of a “reduction of hostilities”. The European Union is beginning to change course on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. The EU heads of state and government, in the joint statement circulated after the extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers convened to take stock of the situation and call for no future for Ukraine without involving the country, confirm their support for Kyiv but in a completely new way. “Meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities,” the key passage of the document that 26 member states signed, without the support from Hungary, which continues its well-established tradition of sitting out from the Ukrainian issue. 

Up until now, chancelleries throughout Europe and EU institutions had reiterated the importance of starting negotiations between Russia and Ukraine only after a cessation of hostilities. Now, however, they are opening up to the possibility of sitting down at the table even with the conflict ongoing. Certainly a novelty, but the vision has not changed: the 26 are back to calling for a lasting peace, guarantees against future Russian attacks, certainty regarding borders recognized by international law that “will not be changed by force.” From this point of view, therefore, everything has been so far just as there is no change in the role and weight of the US in this conflict.

The leaders welcome the initiative of US President Donald Trump to try to bring a breakthrough to a conflict that Europeans would like to see end. “Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has wider implications for European and international security,” he heads of state and government stressed, convinced that “a diplomatic solution must protect Ukraine’s and Europe’s vital security interests,” which are intertwined. “The European Union underlines the inherent right of Ukraine to choose its own destiny and will continue supporting Ukraine on its path towards EU membership,” the European leaders say. Ukraine is lost: this is the message to Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin. 

The focus now turns to tomorrow’s telephone summit ahead of the Putin-Trump bilateral meeting on Friday. In the meantime, the EU, after the “mobilization” of the foreign ministers, is trying to stay firm.