Key facts
- European leaders are preparing to lead negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
- The initiative will be conducted in close coordination with the United States.
- A spokesperson for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced the shift in leadership.
- The move follows stalled U.S.-led negotiation efforts.
- Key conditions for peace include a ceasefire, security guarantees for Ukraine, and compensation for damages.
- Further discussions are scheduled at upcoming G7 and European Council meetings.
European leaders are ready to assume the leading role in negotiations to end Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a spokesperson for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday. The initiative aims to build on and continue the negotiation process that the U.S. has largely led, with European leaders acting in close coordination with Washington.
Stefan Kornelius, Merz’s spokesperson, stated that the process is gaining new momentum in Europe following a meeting between the leaders of Ukraine, France, Germany, and the U.K. in London. This European initiative comes as U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, have led prior efforts with limited tangible results, and as Washington increasingly focuses on the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
In a joint statement, Merz, his French and U.K. counterparts, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for direct dialogue between Ukraine and Russia, with active U.S. and European participation. They outlined five conditions for peace, including an immediate ceasefire, with the current contact line serving as the starting point for negotiations. The statement also called for robust security guarantees for Ukraine and the continued freezing of Russian assets until Moscow ceases its aggression and compensates Ukraine for war damages.
Further discussions on the European approach to potential peace talks are scheduled for a G7 meeting in Evian and a European Council summit in Brussels. Kornelius emphasized the need for broad European support to advance peace efforts.
It remains uncertain whether Russian President Vladimir Putin will agree to negotiate with European leaders, who have long sought a greater role in conflict resolution. European nations, particularly Germany, have become significant military supporters of Kyiv and are expected to adopt a firmer stance in negotiations with Moscow. Previous attempts at dialogue, including Zelenskyy’s open letter to Putin and Putin’s suggestion of former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as a negotiator, have not yielded progress.
Kornelius indicated that persuading Putin to negotiate could take weeks or months, requiring sustained pressure on Russia and a strong stance from Ukraine. He stressed the importance of Europe being prepared for such a time and establishing the conditions for dialogue.