Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, European Council President António Costa said Europe hasn’t lost faith in its support for Ukraine.
We’ll keep standing side by side with Ukraine in the talks, offering security assurances, supporting its rebuilding, and working towards its membership in the European Union in the future.
He stressed the significance of involving Ukraine in future peace talks and that only they can determine when there are conditions for negotiations with Russia,
Making concessions without any prior negotiation is a massive error.
Costa’s statement reflected the views of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who had also addressed the conference earlier that day.
He said nothing should be decided about Ukraine without their input. He also pointed out that Kyiv cannot go it alone and will need ongoing backing from both the EU and the US.
Costa said that any future agreement should not just involve a “simple ceasefire”, but that it must ensure Russia is no longer a threat to international security.
It can’t give the perpetrator a hand. It must make sure Russia won’t be a threat to Ukraine, to Europe, to its neighbours anymore.
It comes only a day before US Vice President JD Vance criticised European governments’ handling of democracy.
Vance claimed the biggest threat to Europe’s security isn’t Russia or China, but rather a “threat from within” due to a “retreat from some of Europe’s most basic principles, principles it shares with the United States of America.”
Warned Europe, “the old days are over when America always supported Europe just because it always had,” and said it’s time to create an “armed force for Europe.”
“A few days ago, the President told me about his chat with Putin. Not once did he mention that America needs Europe at the table. That’s a pretty big deal,” he said.
According to the Polish Foreign Minister, Radosław Sikorski, a European defence meeting could take place in Paris on Monday. No details have yet been confirmed.
