Europe Doubles Down on Ukraine as Peace Talks Loom; Unity and Caution Define London Front Against Kremlin

In a coordinated front emerging from London, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and leaders from Ukraine, the UK, France, and Germany signaled both urgency and clarity as Ukraine’s war with Russia enters what all sides agree could be a decisive phase. 

With indirect talks unfolding between the U.S. and Russia, and battlefield losses mounting, the Coalition of the Willing reiterated its unified commitment to Kyiv while raising flags about the shape and speed of evolving diplomatic efforts.

Image Source: Zelenskyy on X

Ursula von der Leyen briefed the coalition on two central pillars: unwavering support for Ukraine and increasing European defence preparedness. “We all know what is at stake and we know we do not have any more time to lose,” she said. Framing Ukraine’s survival as “a crucial act of European defence,” von der Leyen detailed a Reparations Loan proposal aimed at escalating economic pressure on Russia. 

“The longer Putin wages his war, spills blood, takes lives, and destroys Ukrainian infrastructure—the higher the costs for Russia will be,” she warned. The financial mechanism uses cash balances from immobilised Russian assets and is designed to raise the cost of war in real-time.

Von der Leyen also emphasized that Ukraine is deeply embedded in the EU’s emerging defence architecture. “Ukraine is included in 15 of the 19 [SAFE] plans submitted. This is not just about money—Ukraine is learning hard-won lessons on the battlefield and we are learning with them.” She added that integrating defence industrial bases is now a European priority, creating deterrence “for today and tomorrow.”

The European message was reinforced by statements from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and leaders of the UK, France, and Germany, delivered in London in direct, coordinated language.

“We stand with Ukraine,” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, but cautioned that “if there’s to be a ceasefire, it needs to be a just and lasting ceasefire.” 

Reaffirming that “matters about Ukraine are for Ukraine,” Starmer underscored Kyiv’s sovereign role in determining acceptable terms.

Zelenskyy, in turn, offered rare visibility into the nature of back-channel negotiations. “There are some things which we can’t manage without Americans, and things which we can’t manage without Europe,” he said, referring to ongoing contacts with both the U.S. and Russia. 

Noting that his delegation had returned from Washington with updates, he hinted at new momentum but emphasized the need for “important decisions” to be made by allies jointly.

French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged the complexity of the moment but projected strength. “We all support peace… but sustainable, robust peace,” he said. 

“We have a lot of cards in our hands—the financing, the quality of equipment and training, and the fact that the Russian economy is starting to suffer.” 

Macron stressed the importance of strategic convergence between Ukraine, Europe, and the U.S. before finalizing peace talks.

Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz was more pointed, reflecting the weight of real-time diplomacy and hinting at possible divergence in approach. 

“We are seeing these talks and negotiations in Moscow and in the U.S.… I’m skeptical about some of the details which we are seeing in the documents coming from the U.S. side,” he said. Nonetheless, he was firm in resolve: “Nobody should doubt our support for Ukraine.”

Together, the statements paint a picture of a Europe that is both hardened by nearly three years of war and more strategically aligned than at any point since Russia’s full-scale invasion.

While offering Zelenskyy full backing, Europe’s major capitals are also clearly calibrating their position amid American overtures toward Russia and renewed diplomatic posturing from Moscow.

Von der Leyen’s line may best capture the core of the European stance at this critical juncture: “Russia’s brutal war sought to divide us but it has achieved the opposite… we are not only bound by defence interests but by our common values. And this is how we will proceed.”