Zelenskiy meets EU leaders, NATO chief to ensure “security guarantees” for Ukraine
- 19 December, 14:20
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday met key European leaders and NATO secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels to discuss measure to ensure his country’s security ahead of January inauguration of Donald Trump who wants a quick end to the war.
Commenting on his meeting with Mark Rutte, Zelenskiy told the reporters in Brussels that “it was a very good opportunity to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine.”
The two men were later joined by leaders of Germany, Denmark, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands and the European Union’s main institutions. French President Emmanuel Macron held a separate bilateral meeting with Zelenskiy on the same day.
Following the meetings with Rutte and EU officials in Belgian capital, Zelenskiy wrote in his X account: “We are doing everything to ensure that Europe has a united and strong position to bring peace closer. Peace is possible if we defend ourselves against Russian madness in unity. We are outlining security guarantees. Together with America, Europe can push Russia to real peace. Peace through strength is bound to happen. Today we continue at the European Council meeting.”
During the meeting in Brussels, Zelenskiy thanked the EU for the bloc’s continued and comprehensive support of Ukraine in the war with Russia and asked for 19 air defence systems. In yet another attempt to strategize the war with Russia, Zelenskiy also met with President of the European Council Antonio Costa in Brussels to discuss the protection of Ukraine's energy infrastructure and increasing domestic defense production.
Zelenskiy’s visit comes amid the looming uncertainty over the upcoming Trump administration’s policies on Russia-Ukraine war. During his election campaign Trump pledged to end the war as swiftly as possibly, raising fears that White House might withhold military aid to Ukraine and forces Kyiv into concessions.
