Britain and France are preparing for a new format of support for Ukraine. Amid concerns about Donald Trump's possible withdrawal from the negotiation process, European allies are focusing on the long-term defense of Kyiv without US participation. This is reported by The Telegraph.
"Let's be realistic and recognize that the US will never be on board," — said one Western official, describing the Hague meeting.
As The Telegraph writes, citing sources familiar with the negotiations in The Hague, European countries, which until recently were preparing for a possible peace agreement with Russia under the auspices of Washington, are now changing their emphasis to the long-term defense of Ukraine without American support.
A meeting of “political directors” from foreign ministries in the Netherlands signaled that the “coalition of the determined” led by Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron was reorienting itself.
More than 30 countries supported its concept, but only a few publicly declared their willingness to deploy troops.
“It was mostly about how to maintain the necessary support for Ukraine, given that the US will continue to provide only some specific resources, such as intelligence,” — one of the diplomats explained.
The current US administration continues to supply weapons contracted under Biden, but does not sign new agreements.
Washington allowed the sale of F-16 spare parts to Ukraine and allowed Europeans to supply American-made weapons.
However, Ukraine's accession to NATO is taboo for Trump. This was directly stated by his spokesman, General Keith Kellogg, adding that even among the Alliance allies there are opponents of this step.
European countries also plan to invite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the NATO summit in The Hague next month, although his participation was previously in question precisely because of Trump's position.
Amid diminishing hopes for US mediation, Kyiv is insisting on clear conditions from Moscow before the next round of talks in Istanbul. In particular, Ukraine is demanding an official peace memorandum from the Kremlin.
Next week will be a key diplomatic week. A new round of talks between Ukraine and Russia is set to take place in Istanbul on Monday. The national security advisers of the United Kingdom, Germany, and France will participate.
In parallel, the United Kingdom and Germany will hold a meeting of the Contact Group on Defense Issues in Ukraine - 50 countries will coordinate further military support for Kyiv.
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