US President Donald Trump’s talks with Ukrainian leaders over security guarantees have sparked skepticism among European officials, who say a deal without concrete commitments from Russia is unlikely to succeed.
Chair of Denmark’s parliament Folketing defence committee Rasmus Jarlov said President Zelenskyy would be willing to run naked through New York City if it meant securing security guarantees for Ukraine. This echoed warnings from former EU commissioner Frans Timmermans, who described the talks as “Project 2025” – a term that suggests Russia is seeking to undermine Western interests.
Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy stressed the need for robust security guarantees in a separate meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. He warned that only Putin stands to benefit from continued conflict and urged European unity to strengthen Ukraine’s position.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer highlighted the urgency of securing Europe’s future, warning it was a “once in a generation moment” for its security. He emphasized the need for cooperation with allies like Ukraine and the US, while also stressing the importance of increased defence spending within Europe.
As talks began at Lancaster House, European leaders faced skepticism over Trump’s ability to secure meaningful concessions from Russia. The absence of concrete guarantees has raised concerns that a deal without robust security commitments would be seen as unacceptable by Ukrainian officials.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/mar/02/ukraine-war-volodymyr-zelenskyy-keir-starmer-donald-trump-us-europe-eu-russia-defence-latest-live-news?page=with:block-67c474ac8f081ffa02a94584