After a dramatic week spent worrying about Greenland’s future, Europe is shifting its political focus back to a crisis that risks redefining its security architecture for generations to come: Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Europeans want it preliminary trading Success in persuading President Donald Trump to abandon his attempt to seize Greenland through punitive tariffs could allow both sides of the Atlantic to resume common efforts to end full-scale invasion. unprecedented row The airspace over Danish territory, which is rich in mineral resources, was temporarily in danger of being derailed.
As Russia’s full-scale invasion approaches its fourth year, European leaders are steadfastly supporting the White House’s push for a peace deal between Kiev and Moscow.
U.S., Ukrainian and Russian officials concluded two days of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy calling them “constructive.”
“If we are ready to move forward, and if Ukraine is ready, further talks will take place,” Zelensky said in another article. signs of optimism.
Kremlin diplomatic adviser Yuri Ushakov said the two exchanges “reaffirmed that without resolving the territorial issue it is not possible to hope for a long-term settlement.”
As this process accelerates and expands in scope, European capitals are starting to: seriously consider Another option is to reopen direct communication channels with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which have been effectively closed since 2022.
France’s Emmanuel Macron and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni publicly supported the change in strategy earlier this month. The European Commission, which has long advocated diplomatic isolation, later spoke out and said dialogue could take place “at some point”.
European leaders are currently discussing the idea of ββappointing a special envoy, even if unnamed, to talk to the Kremlin and convey Europe’s unified view.
In parallel, European countries are working closely with their American counterparts on two key elements attached to the current 20-point peace agreement.
The first is a detailed set Safety guarantee Established immediately after the end of the war. These include a high-tech mechanism led by the US to monitor a ceasefire across the Line of Contact, a French and British-led coalition force to protect strategic locations across Ukraine, and a legally binding commitment to support Ukraine in the event of a new Russian attack.
While the guarantees have been substantially in place, much remains to be determined by Moscow’s acceptance of the terms of the peace deal, which remains the biggest question mark. For many in Europe, the barrage of Russian missiles cause a power outage for Ukrainians In sub-zero temperatures, there is a distinct lack of real commitment.
“We are dissatisfied that we are making so many efforts towards peace while Russia, our partner in crime, is not involved at all,” a senior EU official said.
Membership push
Meanwhile, Europe and the United States are moving closer to a unified document to boost Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction, attract foreign investors and mobilize billions of dollars in capital.
The so-called Prosperity Plan was scheduled to be signed last week during the World Economic Forum in Davos, with Zelenskiy also present. However, the ceremony was canceled due to controversy over President Trump’s tariffs, throwing the timing off. Nevertheless, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the draft document to EU leaders during an emergency summit on Thursday night.
“We are almost done. We are actively preparing Ukraine’s future as a modern, sovereign and free country,” von der Leyen said at the end of the summit.
The European Commission expects a joint signature in the coming weeks following a preliminary agreement to de-escalate tensions in Greenland.
The common thread linking security and prosperity plans is Ukraine’s membership in the EU.
Kiev wants the final version of the peace deal to include a date for finalizing membership, to offset the pain of possible territorial concessions. The current document is said to include a date of January 2027, but officials and diplomats in Brussels admit that this is not realistically possible, given that Ukraine has yet to begin any round of negotiations. Hungary’s unwavering veto.
If a peace deal is agreed, it will inevitably prompt a review of the notoriously complex and lengthy enlargement process. But any reforms are likely to face reservations from some member states and criticism from other candidate countries, which have been on the waiting list much longer than Ukraine.
Cyprus, which currently holds a six-month rotating council presidency, intends to proceed with Ukraine’s accession “if conditions permit,” Marilena Raouna, the country’s deputy minister for European affairs, said on Monday afternoon.
“Expansion is a merit-based process based on the progress a candidate has made,” Raouna said. “Ukraine has achieved remarkable reforms under extremely difficult conditions, even in the face of continued Russian aggression.”
Additionally, Brussels is working on a new package of EU sanctions against Russia. Approval is widely expected to coincide with Armistice Day, as has traditionally been February 24 every year from 2022 onwards.