Zelenskiy presses for EU-US unity to cease Putin

By Philip Blenkinsop and Lili Bayer (OTC:BAYRY)

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged Donald Trump on Thursday to ally with Europe to cease Russia and save his nation amid fears the NATO sceptic U.S. President-elect may deal a setback to Kyiv by slicing American assist for its struggle effort.

“We’d like very a lot unity between america and EU and international locations of Europe,” Zelenskiy mentioned earlier than addressing European Union leaders in the beginning of an EU summit dominated by the Ukraine struggle that Trump has vowed to finish.

“We’d like this unity to attain peace. I feel solely collectively america and Europe can actually cease Putin and save Ukraine,” Zelenskiy continued, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

EU diplomats have mentioned the leaders goal to ship a transparent sign to Trump about their continued assist for Ukraine and can stress that any peace settlement should contain Ukraine and respect its territorial integrity.

Antonio Costa, chairing his first EU summit as the brand new European Council president, mentioned the EU would work for a simply and lasting peace.

“This struggle will not be solely about Ukraine, will not be solely about Europe, (it) is in regards to the worldwide legislation. The worldwide legislation should prevail and the invasion should be defeated,” he instructed reporters beside Zelenskiy.

EU leaders are because of reaffirm their “unwavering dedication” to supporting Ukraine “for so long as it takes”, in line with draft summit conclusions.

Trump has repeatedly referred to as for a swift finish to the practically three-year-old struggle. On Monday he mentioned Zelenskiy ought to be prepared to succeed in a peace cope with Russian President Vladimir Putin, although he didn’t say whether or not this meant Kyiv ceding territory to Moscow as a part of a negotiated settlement.

Russian forces at the moment occupy practically a fifth of Ukrainian territory and are making regular advances within the east of the nation.

EU draft conclusions for the summit say that “Russia should not prevail”, including that no initiative should be taken on Ukraine with out Kyiv’s involvement.

Zelenskiy’s attendance on the EU summit follows talks with NATO Secretary Basic Mark Rutte and different European leaders on Wednesday, aiming to get fast assist to bolster Kyiv’s struggle effort and talk about longer-term safety ensures.

Whereas European leaders insist they’re specializing in Ukraine’s fast wants, some officers have begun discussing the way to guarantee the nation’s safety after the struggle involves a halt.

The EU leaders can even talk about wider EU-U.S. relations over lunch amid considerations of a doable transatlantic commerce struggle.

Trump has mentioned the EU will “pay a giant value” with tariffs for not shopping for sufficient U.S. exports. He has already pledged hefty tariffs on three of america’ largest buying and selling companions – Canada, Mexico and China. The EU is aware of it won’t be spared.

UNITY

Some EU diplomats mentioned the important thing for the bloc could be unity and avoidance of Washington conducting discussions or offers with single EU members – a replica of its largely profitable unified technique for coping with Britain throughout Brexit negotiations.

“The U.S. may attempt particular person negotiations however up to now I’ve not seen international locations falling for that,” one EU diplomat mentioned.

The EU will search to level out that it’s the United States’ second-biggest buying and selling companion and a detailed ally with shared values. Nonetheless, conscious that Trump is preoccupied by the U.S. items commerce deficit, EU officers have mooted doubtlessly providing to purchase extra U.S. LNG or arms.

The lunchtime “EU on this planet” debate can be more likely to embody China and whether or not the bloc will likely be pressured to take sides in a U.S.-China commerce battle in addition to Britain, which has mentioned it needs to reset ties with the European Union and is seen by the bloc as an important safety ally.