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Members of the “Coalition of the Willing” for Ukraine called for continued transatlantic unity as Europeans seek to exert greater influence in the peace talks with Moscow as Washington ups pressure for a quick deal.
“We are working to ensure that the security guarantees include serious components of European deterrence and are reliable, and it is important that the United States is with us and supports these efforts,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after the virtual meeting attended by 34 mostly European countries.
Zelenskyy also said he had had “a constructive and in-depth discussion with the American team” that comprised Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Generals Keane and Grynkewich, and Josh Gruenbaum from the Federal Acquisition Service, on the topic of security guarantees.
“Security guarantees are among the most critical elements for all subsequent steps,” he wrote on X, adding: “It was agreed that the teams will work actively to ensure that, in the near future, there will be a clear understanding of the security guarantees. I thank everyone who is helping!”
Other European leaders who attended the meeting also offered words of support to Ukraine, stressing the need for transatlantic unity and to continue to exert pressure on Russia.
US President Donald Trump has made it clear he expects European allies to shoulder most of the burden when it comes to security guarantees, with 26 countries already declaring they will provide equipment and assistance post-truce. France and the UK, which co-chair the Coalition of the Willing format, are also among those ready to take part in a so-called reassurance force.
But many of the plans are dependent on a US backstop, mainly in the form of air protection and intelligence sharing.
‘The coming week will be decisive’
One card the Europeans are holding close to their chest to exert influence in the negotiations they have been largely excluded from is the issue of the €210 billion inRussian sovereign assets they have immobilised within their jurisdictions and which they plan to use to fund Ukraine’s financial needs over the coming two years.
On Thursday, the European Union agreed to indefinitely immobilise the assets of the Russian Central Bank, a central element of the reparations loan to Ukraine, still under intense negotiations ahead of a make-or-break summit next week.
By doing so, the EU will lock the assets under its jurisdiction amid concerns that the US would seek control of the frozen assets and use them in a future settlement with Moscow as it negotiates an end to the war.
This is part of efforts made to assuage Belgium, where the bulk of the assets are held, which has rejected the creation of the loan over fears of retaliation from Russia and over unequal burden sharing.
“I updated the leaders on our work to secure financing for Ukraine for 2026-2027,” Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, said after attending the Coalition of the Willing meeting.
“Our proposals are on the table, and the sense of urgency is clear to everyone. The coming week will be decisive,” she added on X.
A potential Europe-Ukraine-US meeting this weekend
The meeting on Thursday came a day after France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Friedrich Merz and Keir Starmer talked on the phone with Trump to discuss the latest developments in the peace talks following a meeting in London with Zelenskyy.
“The main issue here is what territories and concessions Ukraine is prepared to make. That is a question that must be answered primarily by the Ukrainian president and the Ukrainian people. We made that clear to President Trump as well,” Merz told reporters on Thursday.
“And if we now proceed with this process as we envisage, there will be talks with the American government over the weekend. And then there may be a meeting here in Berlin at the beginning of next week, whether the American government participates or not.That also depends very much on the joint drafting of the papers that are currently being worked on,” he also said.
Earlier in the day, Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told a conference that the initial 28-point plan drafted by Washington and Moscow that was seen to heavily favour Russia as it included a demand for Ukraine to cede the entire region of the Donbas, “is no longer existing”.
“We had some influence on it,” he said. “We have a new plan, which is a 20-point plan, and which has really changed. So do we have to be engaged with the United States more than before? Yes. Is it possible to find a common ground? Yes.”
Speaking alongside him, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte concurred.
“Do I think that when it comes to Ukraine, the US and Europe can get to one page? Yes, I’m positive. I think we can. Am I sure that the Russians will accept? I don’t know,” he said.
“So let’s put Putin to the test. Let’s see if he really wants peace or if he prefers the slaughter to continue. It is essential that all of us keep up the pressure on Russia and support the genuine effort to bring this war to an end.”
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