Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and key European leaders in Brussels on Wednesday to strategize over Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. The meeting comes amid concerns over President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House and the potential shift in U.S. support for Ukraine.
Speaking alongside Rutte, Zelenskyy described the meeting as “a very good opportunity to speak about security guarantees for Ukraine, for today and for tomorrow.” The gathering included leaders from Germany, Poland, Italy, Denmark, The Netherlands, and representatives from the European Union’s main institutions. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer were unable to attend but sent their foreign ministers.
The discussions took place just over a month before Trump assumes office, with fears that his administration may reduce support for Kyiv or press Ukraine into making concessions to Russia. European leaders are eager to establish a unified strategy to prevent losing influence in the conflict’s resolution. “Europe needs a strong, united position to ensure lasting peace,” Zelenskyy emphasized.
Rutte explained that the priority is to ensure Ukraine is “in the best possible position” when peace talks begin. While some European capitals have debated the potential deployment of troops to Ukraine to secure a ceasefire, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed such discussions as “premature.”
Instead, Rutte urged allies to ramp up arms supplies and avoid public debates over potential peace terms, warning that doing so could benefit Moscow. “If we now start to discuss amongst ourselves what a deal could look like, we make it so easy for the Russians,” he said.
As Ukraine’s forces struggle to maintain their positions and Russia reinforces its troops with North Korean soldiers, Zelenskyy is pushing for increased military aid. Specifically, he is seeking over a dozen additional air defense systems to protect Ukraine’s power grid from Russian attacks.
Zelenskyy also signaled a more flexible stance on potential peace talks, suggesting that with strong security guarantees from NATO and sufficient weaponry, Ukraine might agree to a ceasefire along current frontlines and pursue the recovery of its territory diplomatically. However, NATO has thus far declined to invite Ukraine to join the alliance, raising speculation that peacekeepers could be an alternative solution.
Zelenskyy’s attendance at an upcoming EU summit will provide another opportunity to appeal for urgent military and political support. With Trump’s presidency approaching, Kyiv’s allies are working to solidify their backing for Ukraine and secure a path forward that does not compromise Ukraine’s sovereignty or security.
