European NATO members are at a loss as to what to do with an incoming Donald Trump administration. If Trump decides to push for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia when he enters office, cutting off American weapons shipments until Ukraine comes to the table, the entire Ukraine project will effectively be over. However, rather than accepting this reality and preparing to engage diplomacy on their continent, European leaders took the opportunity during the Dec. 19 European Council Summit in Brussels to insist that no negotiations should take place until Ukraine decides it’s ready.
The official declaration issued by the summit included the statement that: “The European Council … underlines the principle that no initiative regarding Ukraine be taken without Ukraine.” This was repeated ad infinitum, including by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden, and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, among others. And in the meantime, more weapons and air defense systems were pledged so that Ukraine is “in the best position on the day they decide to start peace talks,” as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said.
Amid all the babbling, President Zelenskyy seemed to be the only person who kept himself grounded. When speaking of his desire for security guarantees in the event of a hypothetical ceasefire, Zelenskyy said: “It is impossible to discuss this only with European leaders, because for us, the real guarantees in any case—today or in the future—are NATO.” He added further that “European guarantees won’t be sufficient for Ukraine,” and “it’s very difficult to support Ukraine without American help.”
Thus, Zelenskyy kept his pitch very warm for President-elect Trump. “I think that President Trump is a strong man and I want very much to have him on our side,” Zelenskyy told a journalist on the sidelines of the summit.
