EU leaders are preparing to lead peace talks on the war in Ukraine
European leaders are ready to take the lead in negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.
The negotiation process is gaining new momentum precisely because of the more active participation of European countries.
“What is new, in my view, is that this process is now gaining momentum in Europe,” Cornelius emphasized.
He noted that Europe is effectively taking over part of the negotiating work that was previously carried out mainly by the United States, while all actions are coordinated with Washington.
In a joint statement, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Friedrich Merz, and the leaders of France and the United Kingdom called for the start of direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia with the participation of the U.S. and Europe.
Among the key conditions for achieving peace are:
- an immediate and complete ceasefire;
- the start of direct dialogue between Kyiv and Moscow;
- using the current front line as a starting point for negotiations;
- providing Ukraine with reliable and legally binding security guarantees;
- the preservation of frozen Russian assets until the end of the war and compensation for damages to Ukraine.
The document emphasizes that Russian assets must remain frozen until the Kremlin ceases its aggression and compensates for the damage caused.
Cornelius stated that European countries will continue to coordinate their position at the G7 summit in Evian and during the European Council meeting in Brussels.
“We need the broadest possible support from all European partners to truly move toward peace,” the German government representative noted.
At the same time, it remains unclear whether Vladimir Putin will agree to negotiate with European leaders, who were previously effectively excluded from direct contacts regarding the resolution of the war.
According to Cornelius, getting Putin to the negotiating table may not be easy.
“It may take weeks or even months to get Putin to the negotiating table, and only a strong Ukraine and pressure on Russia will force Putin to back down,” he said.
The chancellor’s representative emphasized that Europe is already preparing for the upcoming negotiation process.
“We also need to build readiness for dialogue and agree on the conditions under which such negotiations can take place at all. All of this is part of the preparation. We are in a phase of reorientation,” Cornelius concluded.
European countries, which are currently Ukraine’s largest military and financial partners, are increasingly demonstrating their readiness to influence not only support for Kyiv but also a future diplomatic settlement of the war.
This was stated by Stefan Cornelius, the official spokesperson for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, following a meeting of the leaders of Ukraine, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom in London.
Zelenskyy published an open letter to Putin—full text.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Moscow is allegedly ready for negotiations to end the war against Ukraine, but sees no willingness for dialogue on the Ukrainian side.
Putin is not changing course and continues to finance the war.
