Trump has a peace plan - how about Ukraine and the EU?
US President Trump's peace plan has sparked outrage. There is talk of capitulation and a dictated peace. But what is the alternative - what are the EU and Ukraine proposing? A look behind the scenes.
The EU has no peace plan at all. Kallas, the foreign affairs commissioner actually responsible for this, did not consider it necessary to put forward any proposals of her own - she is focussing on (un)diplomatic measures against Russia.
When asked, the EU Commission explained that it was in favour of peace. However, Ukraine would have to conduct the negotiations itself and from a ‘position of strength’. That is why the EU is providing money and weapons.
Brussels is not talking about its own negotiation efforts. Only Germany and France are involved in the ongoing US talks - indirectly, through contacts with Kiev and Washington.
Berlin and Paris have defined ‘red lines’ at recent meetings with the Americans, for example on Crimea. Chancellor Scholz also declared that Ukraine must have an effective army following a ceasefire.
However, Berlin and Paris are already at loggerheads over the issue of European peacekeeping forces for the post-war period. President Macron has formed a ‘coalition of the willing’, Scholz is one of the unwilling.
Some EU countries - especially the Baltic states and northern Europeans - want to continue the war until Ukraine is ‘victorious’ - ‘as long as it takes’, as the summit resolutions put it. This is another reason why the EU plays no role in peace.
Ukraine's wishes
Ukraine has presented several plans. For years, it referred to Zelensky's ‘peace formula’ - but this was little more than a catalogue of wishes. A ‘peace summit’ in Switzerland brought no progress.
Before the US presidential election at the end of 2024, Zelensky presented a ‘victory plan’ that included joining Nato in a flash. However, not even former President Biden wanted to go along with this.
In the end, the Ukrainian position became blurred. Sometimes it was said that the country was prepared to cede occupied territories, sometimes this was denied. Selensky declared that Crimea was not negotiable.
Dispute over guarantees
Most recently, it was said in Kiev that Russia would have to observe a 30-day ceasefire before a peace agreement could be reached. There would also have to be reparations, for example from the assets frozen in the EU.
Ukraine is prepared to negotiate, but not to surrender, explained deputy head of government Svyrydenko. Kiev wants security guarantees and a ‘frozen conflict’ disguised as peace is not acceptable.
However, the USA is clearly not prepared to give guarantees. And the EUropeans are at odds over this - see above. Even the ‘willing’ do not want to join in if the USA does not have their backs.
And so they continue to hang on to Trump's coat tails...
The original post (in German) is here
P.S. At their last meeting in London, Ukraine and a number of European countries presented a counter-proposal to the US peace plan. It includes many of Kiev's demands - a ceasefire, security guarantees, EU accession, etc. However, the USA is to participate in the guarantees, which US President Trump has ruled out. Territorial issues are only to be discussed and resolved after a complete and unconditional ceasefire - presumably a no-go for Russia. An EU proposal of its own is still being sought in vain...