Europeans vow to assist Ukraine against future Russian attack after Berlin talks
1821 Min Read
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed progress in talks with US negotiators following two days of discussions in Berlin, as European leaders pledged to support Ukraine against future Russian aggression, including through military means.
The meetings aimed to break a cycle of conflict that has persisted for more than a decade, yet key questions remain over the status of territories currently occupied by Russia and the practical implementation of security guarantees.
European leaders welcomed the discussions, detailing a range of assistance measures encompassing armed force, intelligence and logistical support, as well as economic and diplomatic actions. In a joint statement on Monday, they outlined the most comprehensive security commitments to date, including “sustained and significant support” for Ukraine’s armed forces, envisioned at roughly 800,000 troops in peacetime, alongside a European-led multinational force on Ukrainian soil, building on the France- and UK-chaired “Coalition of the Willing.”
The plan also proposes a US-led mechanism to monitor and verify any future ceasefire, alongside a legally binding commitment to restore peace in the event of renewed hostilities, leaving individual countries to determine how they will assist. Additional measures include long-term investment in Ukraine’s reconstruction and the freezing of Russian Central Bank assets to underpin economic pressure on Moscow.
