Ukraine at ‘critical moment’ in war; European allies ramp up Russia pressure

Ukraine’s European allies said on Monday that the war was at a “critical moment” as President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country was preparing to share a revised peace plan with the United States.

Zelensky met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron in London, as European leaders seek to ensure that Ukraine’s territorial integrity and future security are not at risk. In the face of increasing American pressure.

In a statement following the meeting, Starmer’s office said the leaders discussed “the importance of US-led peace talks for European security” and supported the progress made so far.

“The leaders stressed the need for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, which includes strong security guarantees,” Starmer’s representatives added. He added: “The leaders agreed that while diplomatic efforts continue, Europe must stand by Ukraine, to strengthen its ability to defend against continuing attacks.”

Starmer, Merz, Macron and Zelensky also discussed the “positive progress” that has been made on using frozen Russian assets to support the reconstruction of Ukraine.

The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, last week Suggested using cash from balances Of European financial institutions holding frozen assets in the Russian Central Bank to support Ukraine through a “compensation loan”. It also introduced borrowing money on international markets, providing member states with an alternative to using Russian capital.

The British Prime Minister’s Office noted that those attending Monday’s meeting also joined a call with other European leaders after the initial talks.

The spokesman said: “The leaders all agreed that now is a critical moment and that we must continue to intensify support for Ukraine and economic pressure on Putin to bring an end to this brutal war.”

The United Kingdom and France were the most prominent supporters of A “Coalition of the willing” A group of countries that could be part of a “reassurance force” in post-war Ukraine that helps ensure its security.

Ukraine is expected to share a revised peace plan with the United States after the London talks, according to media reports.

Zelensky said in comments reported by Sky News that the updated plan consists of 20 points after removing some “obvious anti-Ukrainian points.” He added that he would share the revised plan with the United States today.

Sunday, Trump claimed that Zelensky had not read yet The most recent US-backed peace plan so far, though it is unclear which version Trump was referring to.

“We all know that the fate of this country is the fate of Europe,” Merz added on Monday. He added, “No one should doubt our support for Ukraine. I am skeptical about some of the details that we see in the documents coming from the American side, but we have to talk about it, and that is why we are here.”

Negotiations to end the war appear to be “going in circles,” Anna Rosenberg, head of geopolitics at the Amundi Investment Institute, told CNBC’s “Europe Early Edition” on Tuesday.

“There’s a lot of talking back and forth,” she said. “Honestly, sometimes I wonder what they keep talking about, because the sticking points are always the same. It’s about territory and it’s about security guarantees, and security guarantees are arguably more difficult than territory, but territory is also difficult for Ukraine.”

Zelensky, who also met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO President Mark Rutte and European Council President Antonio Costa in Brussels on Monday, said the main focus of his meetings in Europe was strengthening security guarantees from continental allies.

Starmer’s office said the leaders who met in London “stressed the need for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, which includes strong security guarantees.”

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin Moscow threatened to do so It will seize Ukraine’s vital Donbass region “by force” if Ukraine does not cede the region willingly.

Kiev is unlikely to give in to such pressure, Rosenberg told CNBC on Tuesday.

She explained: “The area we are talking about is an important defense zone for Ukraine, which, if Ukraine abandons it, will make it easier for Russia to penetrate deeper into Ukraine, because it is the so-called heavy fortification belt.”

“Behind the fortress belt, there is a plane that you can easily enter with the army. So, Ukraine will hold on to that as long as possible. They will only give up the area when they feel confident. They have security guarantees that will give them confidence that there will be no attack in a couple of months or years.”

—Tasmin Lockwood contributed to this report.