European Allies Urge More Security Guarantees for Ukraine
European leaders say more work is needed on security guarantees for Ukraine as Washington pressures Kyiv to accept a peace deal, and President Volodymyr Zelensky met British, French and German leaders in London on Monday.
The talks, held at Downing Street, focused on a US‑drafted peace plan that Kyiv argues lacks hard‑edged safeguards against further Russian aggression. French President Emmanuel Macron pledged intensified efforts to secure guarantees for Kyiv.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned that any settlement must contain ‘hard‑edged security guarantees’ for Ukraine. ‘We can’t manage without the Americans, we can’t manage without Europe,’ Zelensky said, stressing the need for decisive action.
German Finance Minister Friedrich Merz expressed scepticism about details of the U.S. proposal, adding, ‘But we have to talk about it. That’s why we are here.’
Following the London meeting, Zelensky was due to travel to Brussels to confer with NATO officials and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The United States has been urging both Kyiv and Moscow to adopt a multi‑point plan, but recent negotiations have stalled. A five‑hour meeting between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and President Vladimir Putin in Moscow produced no tangible outcome, and former U.S. President Donald Trump lambasted Zelensky for not yet reading the revised draft.
Ukraine insists any peace must include guarantees that Russia cannot launch another invasion and that territorial concessions will not reward Moscow’s aggression. The U.S. proposal for Ukraine to withdraw forces from contested eastern regions in exchange for Russian pull‑backs remains unpalatable to Kyiv.
Ghana’s foreign ministry, speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations, reiterated Accra’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and called for ‘robust international guarantees’ to prevent further bloodshed. Ghanaian businesses with interests in Europe are watching the talks closely, fearing that prolonged instability could impact trade routes through the EU.
The conflict shows no sign of abating. Between Sunday and Monday, Russian strikes hit nine Ukrainian regions, killing ten civilians and injuring forty‑seven. The war, which began in February 2022, continues to claim thousands of lives and displace millions.
As European leaders intensify diplomatic efforts, the next steps will hinge on whether Kyiv accepts a security‑backed settlement and whether the United States maintains its military and economic support. Zelensky is expected to receive a briefing from chief negotiator Rustem Umerov in either London or Brussels later this week.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
