Published December 18,2024
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets Wednesday with NATO chief Mark Rutte and key European leaders in Brussels to debate “next steps” on Russia’s battle as Donald Trump prepares to take workplace within the United States.
The gathering due within the night was set to deliver collectively German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Polish chief Donald Tusk, Italian premier Giorgia Meloni and Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen and will additionally embody French President Emmanuel Macron.
British international minister David Lammy can also be anticipated to attend, as are EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa.
The huddle comes simply over a month earlier than Trump strikes into the White House having pledged to deliver a swift finish to a battle that NATO says has left over a million useless and wounded since Russia’s 2022 invasion.
European leaders — eager to not be left on the sidelines — are scrambling to provide you with their very own plans as fears swirl that Trump might pull US assist for Kyiv and pressure it to make painful concessions to Moscow.
Discussions have begun between some capitals over the potential deployment of European troops to Ukraine to safe any eventual ceasefire.
But whereas this was raised at a latest assembly between Macron and Tusk, diplomats say it stays too early to provide you with concrete proposals.
“Officially that is not on the agenda, but since there will be a lot of important people in the same room, it cannot entirely be ruled out,” a NATO diplomat mentioned.
Addressing Italy’s parliament on Tuesday, Meloni mentioned the assembly in Brussels would reinforce European efforts to guarantee a “just and lasting peace”.
“It is also an important opportunity to discuss the future of the conflict, maintaining close coordination on the next steps to be taken,” Meloni mentioned.
Zelensky says he believes the battle might finish subsequent 12 months, and has referred to as for allies to assist safe a peace deal that Moscow can not violate.
He mentioned the leaders would talk about “how to urgently strengthen Ukraine on the battlefield, politically and geopolitically”.
NATO mentioned that discussions would give attention to “ongoing support for Ukraine, in particular air defence” as Russian bombardments have hammered Ukraine’s energy grid.
Source: www.anews.com.tr