Scholz expressed the hope of visiting Trump soon. “This is something that is underway,” he said after the summit. The meeting of the 27 EU heads of state and government with Zelensky was the last before Trump took office on January 20th. The Republican recently called for an “immediate ceasefire” and confirmed that he wants to cut US military aid to Kiev.
“I would really like Trump’s help to end this war,” Zelensky said. “But I am against the word ceasefire,” he said. Because if Putin attacks again after two or six months, “everyone will lose,” said the Ukrainian president about a possible rearmament in Russia.
“Only together can the USA and Europe actually stop Putin and save Ukraine,” Zelensky said at the beginning. Therefore, “a real plan” is needed to put Ukraine in a “strong position” before possible negotiations. He hopes that Trump and the Europeans can agree on a uniform course.
Scholz also stated that support for Ukraine’s future security must be “structured in a transatlantic manner.” However, Germany and the USA have so far rejected the country’s NATO membership. Zelenskyj once again called Ukraine’s accession the “most important security guarantee” for his country. As long as this is not realistic, other proposals must be examined.
Specifically, he mentioned French President Emmanuel Macron’s initiative for European peacekeepers. However, Scholz again called this premature in Brussels. Europeans should not take the fourth or fifth step before the first, he stressed. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he did not see “sending Spanish ground troops to Ukraine.”
Macron was represented by Scholz at the EU summit. He met Zelensky bilaterally in Brussels on Wednesday before traveling to the French overseas territory of Mayotte, which was devastated by a hurricane.
On the eve of the EU summit, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte discussed how to proceed with Zelensky, Scholz and representatives of a number of other European countries. Rutte urges Europeans to arm Ukraine ahead of possible negotiations with Putin.
However, according to his own words in Brussels, Zelensky did not receive any new commitments for the 19 requested air defense systems against Russian attacks. He referred to deliveries already announced from Germany and Canada.
The second major summit topic was the situation in Syria. After the fall of ruler Bashar al-Assad, the EU, Germany and other member states made initial contacts with the new Islamist leadership, which is currently still on an EU sanctions list.
Scholz emphasized that the EU must now discuss “quickly” a possible lifting of the sanctions. But a decision must be made “after you have enough information,” he added. “Just saying hope and listening shouldn’t be justified.”
Migration was also a topic at the summit. The Netherlands urged Syrian refugees to return as quickly as possible. “If the situation in Syria is such that people can return, we will work together on it,” said Prime Minister Dick Schoof. Scholz, on the other hand, reiterated that anyone who is well integrated into Germany and speaks the language can stay.
