Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with European leaders yesterday ahead of a summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska. The call, which included Trump, aimed to influence the American president’s thinking before the U.S.-Russia summit in Anchorage.
European leaders have begun to make concessions on Ukraine’s position, echoing NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s recent comment that there may be a need for de facto recognition of Russian occupation of Ukrainian land. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that the frontline should be the starting point for territorial negotiations.
However, European leaders remain firm on upholding the norm of territorial integrity. In response to Putin’s proposal last week, Europe and Ukraine insisted that any land swaps must be reciprocal. Despite this shift in stance, some aspects of Europe’s position remain unchanged, such as the notion that Russia cannot have a veto over Ukraine’s NATO accession.
Experts argue that Washington cannot afford to take on an additional ironclad security commitment to a country where vital interests are not at stake. Europeans advocating for this approach is morally suspect and strategically unwise. Instead, they should focus on negotiating more realistic security guarantees for Ukraine, such as Kyiv’s right to retain a peacetime military and pushing Moscow to accept a regulated European military presence on Ukrainian soil.
The conflict in Ukraine is primarily about Russia’s perception of being denied a meaningful say over Europe’s post-Cold War security order. Failure to address this issue ensures that the wider European space will remain fractured, fostering a continued sense of insecurity for both Russia and the rest of Europe. A pragmatic relationship with Russia and encouraging European autonomy are crucial for resolving the war in Ukraine and promoting a stable continental security order.
European leaders must shift their approach from presenting principles to negotiating difficult security issues with their neighbors and adversaries. Insisting on Kyiv’s right to join NATO as a matter of principle reflects an “end of history” mentality that privileges lecturing over genuine diplomacy. By softening their stance, European leaders can build momentum for conflict resolution and ceasefire implementation, paving the way for a broader vision for conflict resolution and Ukraine’s reconstruction.
Source: https://responsiblestatecraft.org/europeans-alaska-trump-russia