Paris: European leaders have signaled their willingness to provide security guarantees to Ukraine but cautioned that agreeing to a ceasefire without a comprehensive peace deal could be risky, according to a European Union official.
During a high-level meeting in Paris on Monday, convened by French President Emmanuel Macron, EU leaders discussed their approach to the ongoing conflict. The officials stated that while Europe is ready to support Ukraine, the exact terms of these security commitments would need to be worked out in collaboration with all involved parties, taking into account the level of backing from the United States.
The meeting followed U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to arrange direct peace negotiations with Russia in Saudi Arabia, excluding Ukraine and European allies. This move prompted European leaders to reaffirm their stance on the conflict.
Among those in attendance were British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. Other participants included Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Antonio Costa.
The EU official emphasized that European leaders share Trump's perspective on achieving "peace through strength" but stressed the dangers of halting hostilities without securing a broader peace agreement. "We believe it is dangerous to conclude a ceasefire without a peace agreement at the same time," the official warned.
