EU to continue arming Ukraine in event of temporary truce - DW
The EU believes Ukraine's position needs strengthening (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
There is a possibility that a 30-day ceasefire could be reached between Ukraine and Russia. If this happens, the European Union has no intention of halting arms supplies to Ukraine, according to Deutsche Welle.
At a briefing in Brussels, a European diplomat emphasized that the EU is working to ensure Ukraine holds a stronger position in peace negotiations.
"The European Union aims to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position for peace talks, allowing it to reject a 'bad' deal - as Trump might say - and choose the most suitable moment for negotiations. I do not believe the EU and its members will halt arms supplies to Kyiv if the aggressor demands it as a condition for a ceasefire," he said.
Another diplomat also expressed the view that during a potential ceasefire, Ukraine should be armed rather than disarmed.
"Fighting is still ongoing, but even if there is a pause, Ukraine must be turned into a 'steel porcupine,'" a third EU diplomat emphasized.
He added that it is crucial to put Ukraine in a strong position for negotiations. Moreover, it is necessary to prevent Russia from using a "second chance" to regroup and launch another attack.
A fourth diplomat shared a similar stance, stating that the EU should not weaken its support for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. The allies' task, he said, is to ensure Ukraine holds a strong position and continues to enhance its defense capabilities.
"The idea is that, from a position of strength, Ukraine should improve its defensive capabilities and maintain deterrence in case hostilities resume," the diplomat said.
DW added that on Monday, March 17, EU foreign ministers will discuss the ongoing debate over a ceasefire in Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha is also set to join the meeting via video link.
Russia-Ukraine truce
Following a meeting between US and Ukrainian delegations in Saudi Arabia on March 11, Ukraine agreed to a full 30-day ceasefire, with the possibility of an extension.
On Friday, March 14, US President Donald Trump stated that Washington was negotiating a temporary truce between Ukraine and Russia, adding that the US had already received very good responses. He also noted that more details on the ceasefire would be available on Monday.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy outlined how a potential violation of the ceasefire would be monitored. More details on this can be found in RBC-Ukraine’s report.
