EU countries presented a security guarantee plan for Ukraine

It was signed by 11 European leaders, as well as European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The statement says that US and European leaders have committed to working together to provide Ukraine with credible security guarantees and measures to support economic recovery in the context of an agreement to end the war. This will include the following commitments:

• Provide sustained and significant support to Ukraine to build its armed forces, which should remain at a peacetime level of 800,000 to be able to deter conflict and defend Ukraine’s territory.
• Establish a European-led “multinational force” to assist in rebuilding the Ukrainian Armed Forces, ensuring the security of Ukraine's skies and seas.
• A US-led ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism with international participation to provide early warning of any future attacks, as well as a mechanism for conflict resolution.
• To take measures to restore peace and security in the case of a future armed attack, including armed force, intelligence and logistical assistance, economic and diplomatic actions.
• Investments in Ukraine. This refers to financing for restoration and reconstruction, the conclusion of trade agreements, and consideration of the need for Russia to compensate Ukraine for damages. Russian sovereign assets in the EU remain frozen.
• Strongly support Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.

European leaders emphasised that decisions on territory are for the people of Ukraine, and agreed that some issues will need to be resolved in the final stages of negotiations.

“Russia must show willingness to work towards a lasting peace by agreeing to President Trump’s peace plan and to demonstrate their commitment to end the fighting by agreeing to a ceasefire,” the statement says.

The statement was signed by the leaders of Germany, Denmark, Finland, France, Lithuania, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the EU. It remains open for other countries to join.

Background

In late November, the United States presented a 28-point peace plan for the Russian-Ukrainian war, which included the requirement for Ukraine to cede the rest of Donbas, halve the size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, freeze the line of contact in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, and recognize Russian as an official language.

This plan was widely criticised both in Ukraine and abroad, with some calling it a list of Russian demands that effectively forces Ukraine to capitulate.

On 2 December, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the updated version of the peace plan included 20 points. On the same day, a meeting took place in Moscow between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. Kremlin aide Ushakov said there was no compromise option on the peace plan. According to him, some of the American proposals were acceptable to Russia, while others were not.

Ukraine and Russia are not conducting negotiations directly, but are communicating through an intermediary — the United States.

On 15 December, the second day of negotiations between the Ukrainian and US delegations on a plan to end the Russian-Ukrainian war took place in Berlin. Following the talks, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv and Washington had different positions on the territories. However, he emphasised that everyone was ready to “work productively” to find a solution “with respect for Ukraine.”