The heads of state and government of European NATO countries will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Brussels next Wednesday, to discuss further support for Ukraine in its ongoing resistance against Russian invasion.
According to information from the German news agency DPA, the meeting – organised by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte – will also concern possible security guarantees in the event of a ceasefire.
In addition to Zelenskyy, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the heads of state and government of France, the UK, Italy and Poland will participate. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will also be present.
The meeting will discuss how a possible ceasefire can be maintained, one option being to station international peacekeeping troops in Ukraine.
The background to the meeting is the future second term of Donald Trump as US president. He could force Ukraine and Russia to negotiate. For example, Trump could threaten Ukraine with a halt to military aid, while he could threaten the Kremlin with an increase in military aid to Kyiv.
On Thursday, NATO chief Mark Rutte warned that Europe must urgently shake off its lethargy and spend "much more" on its defence, stating that it is not prepared for the threat of war with Russia.
