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EU Takes Active Role in Ukraine Peace Talks as Negotiations Enter New Phase
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Diplomatic efforts to lay the groundwork for a future peace process in Ukraine have entered a new phase, with the European Union now taking an active role. On November 23, the EU participated in the negotiations in Switzerland for the first time, Deutsche Welle reported on November 24.
Leaders of all EU institutions and representatives from all 27 member states joined an informal meeting held in a hybrid format: more than ten were gathered in Angola for the EU–African Union summit, while the remaining leaders took part via video conference.
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After the meeting, European Council President António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen made a joint statement in Luanda, the capital of Angola, without taking questions from the press. Both leaders noted that discussions on the peace process have gained new and constructive momentum.
“An efficient and coordinated European engagement as well as a strong European presence in Geneva has allowed us to make good progress in the negotiations for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. While work remains to be done, there is now a solid basis for moving forward. As we do, we must remain united and keep placing Ukraine's best interests at the centre of our efforts,” President of European Comission Ursula von der Leyen stated on November 24.
She added that Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected, and that only Ukraine, as a sovereign state, can decide the future of its armed forces and its own destiny.
“There is a new momentum in peace negotiations. Yesterday’s meeting in Geneva between the United States, Ukraine, EU institutions and European representatives marked significant progress. The US and Ukraine informed us that the discussions were constructive, and that progress was achieved on several issues. We welcome this step forward. Some issues remain to be resolved, but the direction is positive,” President of the European Council António Costa said.
He noted that what matters now is for all partners to move forward together, united by the goal of ending the war, stopping the killing, halting Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and securing a just and lasting peace for the Ukrainian people.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also outlined that any agreement on Ukraine must “strengthen, not weaken, our security,” adding that certain parts of the proposal will need to be revised.
He called for increased pressure on Moscow, including the use of frozen Russian assets held in Europe, arguing that “it cannot be the case that Europe ends up paying for Russia’s actions.”
Ulf Kristersson, Sweden’s prime minister, said that Vladimir Putin “must be forced to the negotiating table.”
Speaking after consultations with EU leaders on the US peace plan for Ukraine, he noted: “It is in Sweden’s interest that Russia’s aggression against neighbouring countries never pays off. Otherwise, what happens in Ukraine today could affect one of us in the EU tomorrow.”
At the same time Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that “peace in Ukraine won’t happen overnight,” emphasizing that Russia will need to be more directly engaged in any future negotiations.
Earlier, Ukraine proposed holding an in-person meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump in the United States in the coming days, following reports that negotiators have made significant progress on a draft peace framework for ending the war with Russia.
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