Europe debates possible Ukraine peace paths, including territorial concessions
Europe discusses possible paths to peace for Ukraine (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
Among European partners, there is a growing understanding that Ukraine may have to make territorial concessions for the sake of peace. Although this is not stated publicly in Brussels, the idea is gradually taking shape as "the lesser evil," El País reports.
Sense of powerlessness in the peace process
According to the publication, there is a growing sense of powerlessness in Europe regarding its own role in the peace process. Negotiations between the United States and Russia, which have effectively reached a deadlock, offer no hope for quick progress.
Among European governments, the belief is spreading that Ukraine, which has been resisting the large-scale invasion for nearly four years, may be forced to make significant territorial concessions.
Publicly, none of the allies in Brussels acknowledges this, but such a view is gradually forming as "the lesser evil."
Meeting in Brussels and Ukraine's position
According to El País, this sentiment dominated the Wednesday meeting in Brussels between representatives of France, Germany, Finland, Italy, and the United Kingdom, and the head of the Ukrainian delegation in peace talks, Rustem Umerov.
Although the meeting was described as productive, it highlighted differences among the allies over the territories Russia demanded.
"Some European representatives, without saying so directly, hinted that peace is impossible without a significant part of the concessions demanded by Russia. Umerov, in turn, constantly points to the difficulty of accepting such a situation not only because of emotional, political, and security-related consequences, but also because these territories are enshrined in the Constitution of Ukraine," the article states.
A divided Europe and the key security question
El País notes that Europe understands it is supporting Ukraine almost on its own and that it will have to bear the main burden of reconstruction costs.
"An argument is beginning to spread, a kind of consolation prize, suggesting that Ukraine has already won the war because Russia has not achieved its goals: to conquer it and install a puppet government to keep Ukraine within its sphere of influence," the article states.
At the same time, the idea of possible territorial losses for Ukraine faces strong resistance in the Baltic states and Poland, which view such concessions not only as extremely sensitive but also as a serious threat to their own territorial integrity.
"However, the reality is that within the coalition of volunteers supporting Ukraine, the impression is strengthening that the authorities in Kyiv will have to make serious concessions to end the war. The key question now is what security guarantees the United States is prepared to offer under such an agreement to prevent a new attack from the Kremlin," the media note.
Spiegel recently reported that European leaders held a closed phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
During the call, the leaders of France and Germany allegedly expressed concerns that the United States might betray Ukraine and Europe in negotiations with the Kremlin over a potential peace agreement. The Élysée Palace denied that Emmanuel Macron made such remarks.
Merz's team declined to comment on the "circulating fragments of the conversation." Meanwhile, the Office of the President of Ukraine told journalists that it does not comment on information dumps.
