Russia ‘cannot have veto’ on Kiev EU, NATO membership: European chiefs
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The US has proposed NATO-style security assurances for Ukraine outside the alliance, raising questions ahead of Zelensky’s Washington talks with Trump.
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The European Union and Ukrainian flags flap in the wind to mark the third anniversary of the war in Ukraine outside EU headquarters in Brussels, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025 (AP)
European leaders voiced support on Saturday for a trilateral meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and US President Donald Trump, following the inconclusive Trump–Putin talks in Alaska.
A joint declaration by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen stressed the need to maintain pressure on Moscow until a durable peace is secured, including through sanctions.
Friday’s Alaska summit ended without Trump securing firm commitments from Putin to halt the war in Ukraine, which began in February 2022.
“We will continue to strengthen sanctions and broader economic measures against Russia’s war economy until there is a just and lasting peace,” the leaders said.
Wider context
They emphasized that Moscow “cannot have a veto” over Ukraine’s ambitions to join the EU or NATO. While Russia has warned it will not tolerate Kiev’s entry into the Western defense alliance, the European leaders said they were “ready to work… towards a trilateral summit with European support.”
Trump’s engagement with Putin had raised concerns in European capitals, with leaders arguing that Zelensky should have been part of the Alaska talks.
In a separate statement, Starmer praised Trump’s diplomatic push, saying it brought the prospect of ending Russia’s “illegal war” closer than ever.
Macron, however, urged caution, pointing to what he described as Russia’s “well-documented record of failing to honor its commitments.” He called for any peace agreement to be anchored in “unbreakable” security guarantees.
European leaders also welcomed what they termed “security guarantees” outlined by Trump, though details were not disclosed. A diplomatic source told AFP the US president had floated an offer of NATO-style assurances for Ukraine, short of formal alliance membership.
US floats NATO-style security guarantees for Ukraine, source says
The United States has suggested offering Ukraine security commitments modeled on NATO’s mutual defense principle but outside the alliance framework, a diplomatic source told AFP on Saturday.
According to the source, the proposal surfaced during a joint call between US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and European leaders, following Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
“As part of the security assurances for Ukraine, Washington floated a non-NATO Article 5-style guarantee, reportedly with Putin’s knowledge,” the source said, requesting anonymity. NATO’s Article 5 commits all members to defend any ally under attack.
Trump had spoken with Zelensky separately while returning from Alaska, before the joint call that also included NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Another source confirmed the security plan had been raised but questioned its viability. “No one understands how this would work, or why Putin, who opposes NATO membership outright, would accept genuine guarantees of Ukraine’s sovereignty,” the source noted.
Kiev has long sought NATO accession, a prospect fiercely opposed by Moscow and viewed with caution in some Western capitals. Trump has repeatedly dismissed the idea of Ukraine joining the alliance.
Zelensky to meet Trump in Washington Monday
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Saturday that he will travel to Washington on Monday to discuss “ending the killing and the war” with US President Donald Trump, who later confirmed, “President Zelensky will be coming to D.C., Oval Office, on Monday afternoon.”
The announcement followed Zelensky's call with Trump, during which the US leader outlined the “main points” of his recent talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
“On Monday, I will meet with President Trump in Washington, D.C., to discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war,” Zelensky said. “I am grateful for the invitation.”
The Ukrainian president said he had a “long and substantive conversation with Trump,” which began as a one-on-one discussion before European leaders joined.
Following the US-Russia summit, Zelensky urged Kiev’s European allies to remain involved “at every stage” of negotiations and reiterated his readiness for a trilateral meeting with Trump and Putin, a format Kiev has advocated but the Kremlin has resisted.
“Ukraine emphasises that key issues can be discussed at the level of leaders, and a trilateral format is suitable for this,” Zelensky said.
