Ukraine at the table of EU foreign ministers while the bloc’s foreign policy chief downplayed the prospects for peace. Instead, the bloc’s foreign ministers are talking instead about strengthening support for Kiev. At the same time, however, they are examining the possible scenarios in preparation for the time when the White House will change hands.
It is too early to talk about a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, as Russia is not interested in peace, EU foreign policy chief Kaya Callas said today, Monday 16/12/2024.
“First, there must be peace to send peacekeepers. And Russia doesn’t want peace… that’s very clear,” Callas told reporters ahead of the first meeting of EU foreign ministers she will chair since taking over as the bloc’s high representative for foreign and security policy.
Her comments come amid mounting pressure from US President-elect Donald Trump’s team to find a quick way to end the war.
However, Mr. Kallas stressed that Moscow is not sending positive messages about seeking a way to end the conflicts, pointing to the recent interview of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov with American journalist Tucker Carlson.
The US and its allies “must understand that we will be ready to use any means to prevent them from achieving what they call a strategic defeat of Russia,” Lavrov said.
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For Callas, this is proof that Moscow has not “moved away from its goals. Therefore, we cannot discuss this.”
Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron raised the issue of peacekeeping forces during a visit to Warsaw, but was rebuffed by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who told him: “There is nothing planned at the moment.”
Despite Tusk’s response, some EU capitals are beginning to think about what to do should the Trump administration ask the Europeans to play a military role in security guarantees for Ukraine. However, the discussion is only “at a conceptual level,” said a European diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Some European leaders plan to meet Wednesday night in Brussels with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO chief Mark Rutte to discuss peace plans and the possible deployment of peacekeepers to Ukraine.
Other EU foreign ministers attending Monday’s summit stressed that the main focus is on strengthening Ukraine rather than discussing peace terms.
“It is too early to speculate about” the peacekeepers, Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said.
Zelensky was talking about a diplomatic solution next year “and it is very important that between now and the time when he thinks that negotiations could start … Ukraine is fully supported and that means military support, and that means support in the field of energy, of energy infrastructure, it also means financial support,” said Veldkamp.
Estonian Foreign Minister Markus Tsachkna also stressed that Russian leader Vladimir Putin “has not changed the goal” of the war that began more than two years ago. The Ukrainians “are not asking for any kind of mission right now. They want weapons. They’re asking for air defense. They ask for support. Let’s give it,” he said.
However, if peace talks begin, then Europe must be ready to help, he said. “Of course we have to discuss what the security guarantees will be if peace comes and Europe has to take part in that.”
During Monday’s meeting, ministers will also approve the EU’s 15th package of sanctions against Russia, including measures against the “shadow fleet” used to transport oil and gas in violation of sanctions against Moscow. The package would also impose sanctions on individuals and companies accused of helping the Kremlin secure banned technologies, as well as North Korean officials.
Source: Politico
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