Russia must demonstrate willingness to halt hostilities: European leaders address Moscow
Photo: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (Office of the President of Ukraine)
Russia must demonstrate responsibility and openness to negotiations by confirming a genuine readiness to halt hostilities, European leaders concluded amid the latest developments in peace efforts, according to a statement published on the website of the Government of Italy.
The press service said that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, together with other European leaders, held a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump following the talks in Florida.
European leaders heard briefings from Zelenskyy and Trump on the outcomes of their meeting on a potential peace settlement. The discussions focused in particular on the current state of security guarantees for Ukraine and the issues that remain unresolved.
Meloni reiterated the importance of maintaining unity among partners at a moment when the negotiation process is showing progress, according to the Italian government’s statement.
Representatives of the United States, Europe, and Ukraine also confirmed the need for maximum coordination on matters affecting the vital interests of Ukraine and its partners.
In conclusion, the parties agreed that Russia must demonstrate responsibility and openness to negotiations by confirming a genuine readiness to halt hostilities, the Italian Council of Ministers said.
Zelenskyy–Trump meeting in Florida and Europe's response
European leaders closely followed the December 28 talks between Zelenskyy and Trump in Florida on a peace plan for Ukraine.
Key takeaways from the meeting include the fact that the Donbas issue remains unresolved, while Trump acknowledged concessions by Moscow regarding the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Security guarantees for Ukraine were described as fully agreed, while the peace plan overall is about 90% finalized.
Trump plans to establish a working group composed of senior US officials to engage with Russia on the peace process.
Zelenskyy said that issues discussed with Trump in the United States are expected to be finalized as early as next week. In addition, Ukrainian and European delegations are expected to travel to Washington in January.
After the Florida meeting, Trump and Zelenskyy held follow-up calls with European leaders. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that good progress had been made during the joint talks.
More details on the negotiations at Mar-a-Lago are available in RBC-Ukraine’s full report.
