Europe Unites to Support Ukraine Amid Pressure

In the wake of former U.S. President Donald Trump's pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept Russian President Vladimir Putin's terms for ending the conflict, European governments have rallied to Kyiv's support. European nations are intensively exploring the possibility of using frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine's efforts against Russian aggression. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stated on Monday: "We see President Trump's efforts to bring peace to Ukraine, and all these efforts are welcome. But we do not see a desire from Russia for peace, and we are discussing what else we can do."

Details of Zelenskyy-Trump Meeting

During a meeting, Zelenskyy attempted to refute Putin's extreme demands, which included ceding Ukrainian territory. However, Trump warned Zelenskyy that Putin threatened to "destroy" Ukraine if it did not comply. Trump asserted that a peace agreement was within reach when the U.S. and Russian presidents meet in Budapest in the coming weeks.

Brussels Summit and Funding Proposal

European leaders are scheduled to meet in Brussels on Thursday, with Zelenskyy also likely to attend. The summit aims to reach an agreement on using frozen Russian assets to provide a €140 billion loan to Ukraine. Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany's Christian Democratic Union, has suggested that this funding should be exclusively used to arm Kyiv.

EU Foreign Ministers' Stance

During a meeting in Luxembourg on Monday, EU foreign ministers expressed their support for Ukraine, emphasizing the need to reach an agreement on using frozen Russian assets and imposing a new round of sanctions on Moscow. Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel said: "The EU should put Ukraine in a good initial position at the negotiating table by providing military assistance and exploring how to use these financial assets to provide them with some form of financial relief."

Loan Mechanism

EU officials believe that Thursday's summit will give the European Commission the "green light" to present a proposal to provide loans in tranches, which will be used to purchase weapons. Hungary's pro-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is likely to miss the opening sessions of the summit due to a national holiday, potentially allowing the remaining 26 leaders to reach an agreement in his absence.

Securing Defense Resources for Ukraine

French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné told reporters that this funding would "provide Ukraine with the resources to defend itself for at least three years." Zelenskyy affirmed in his remarks to reporters on Monday that his European counterparts have expressed their full support. He said: "We will meet this week. It is very important that the Europeans form a united front with Ukraine."

Belgian Reservations and Russian Threats

Belgium has expressed reservations, stating that it will not agree to use the assets unless there are guarantees that other member states will foot the "bill" if legal challenges in Moscow succeed. Most of the frozen Russian assets are located in Belgium, at the central securities depository Euroclear. Moscow has strongly condemned the idea of using frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine, calling it an "illegal seizure of Russian property - or simply, theft" and threatening legal action.

Disagreements over Sanctions

Meanwhile, EU governments remain divided over the next round of sanctions on Moscow, which includes a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas from next January, but Slovakia is opposing this until it receives further concessions. With the exception of Slovakia and Hungary, the other countries agreed on Monday to completely phase out Russian gas by 2028.

Energy Independence

EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said that the eventual ban would allow the EU to "gain energy independence" and "equally importantly, support Ukraine."

Slovakia's Conditions

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said Slovakia would not give up its veto unless the European Commission pledged to take action to lower energy costs and support the bloc's struggling auto industry.

Review of Combustion Engine Ban

In an attempt to appease Slovakia, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed a review by the end of this year of the landmark 2035 ban on new cars with combustion engines and help to alleviate high energy costs. But diplomats said Slovakia had not backed down after the proposal was made.

Coordinating Military Support

Western leaders from the "coalition of the willing" will also hold a phone call with Zelenskyy on Friday regarding providing further military support. After Trump refused last week to provide Ukraine with "Tomahawk" long-range missiles, Zelenskyy said he hoped European allies would step up, noting that "these types of weapons are not the sole preserve of the U.S." Zelenskyy said: "If the United States takes a step forward, the Russians will understand that I can also arrange 'Tomahawks' and other necessary weapons in Europe." He added that he "briefed European leaders immediately after his meeting with President Trump." "They also want to make such requests to him personally. We maintain constant coordination."