European allies express scepticism over US-led Ukraine peace terms, backing Zelensky’s stance against ceding territory after Trump’s criticism
LONDON: Ukraine’s European allies demonstrated strong support for President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, expressing doubts about elements of a US proposal to end Russia’s invasion.
Zelensky met with British, French, and German leaders in London before heading to Brussels for talks with EU and NATO chiefs, followed by a scheduled meeting with Italy’s prime minister.
The discussions followed US President Donald Trump’s criticism that Zelensky had not read his administration’s peace proposal, after days of inconclusive Ukraine-US talks in Miami.
Speaking after the London meeting, Zelensky identified Ukrainian territory as a major negotiation obstacle.
“Russia is insisting that we give up territories, but we don’t want to cede anything,” Zelensky stated.
He emphasised that Kyiv had “no legal or moral right” to surrender its land and questioned what support partners would provide against future Russian aggression.
In Brussels, Zelensky described a “good and productive meeting” with NATO’s Mark Rutte and EU leaders, noting their positions were “aligned on all issues”.
Rutte reaffirmed support for a “just and lasting peace for Ukraine”, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared the EU’s “ironclad” backing.
French President Emmanuel Macron said they were preparing “robust security guarantees” for Ukraine, highlighting the need for convergence between European, Ukrainian, and US positions.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed scepticism about “some details” in the US documents, while British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would not pressure Zelensky to accept the Trump-backed deal.
Zelensky had earlier described a “very substantive” call with US envoys, but Trump later expressed disappointment that the Ukrainian president reportedly hadn’t read the proposal.
US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had met Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, with Moscow rejecting parts of the American plan.
Macron condemned Russia’s “escalatory path” before Monday’s talks, urging continued pressure to “compel it to choose peace”.
The initial US plan involved Ukraine surrendering unoccupied territory in exchange for security promises that stop short of NATO membership.
The specifics of proposed security guarantees remain unclear, beyond a suggestion that defensive aircraft could be based in Poland.
Trump’s approach to Ukraine has fluctuated, from criticising Zelensky’s gratitude to recently imposing sanctions on Russian oil firms after failed diplomacy with Putin. – AFP
