European Union leaders at a summit on Thursday, December 19, intend to send a "clear signal" to US President-elect Donald Trump of their continued support for Ukraine, and will discuss the security and economic challenges associated with his return to the White House. This was reported by Reuters , according to UNN.
Details
According to the EU's draft conclusions, the leaders will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the start of their talks in Brussels and reaffirm their "unwavering commitment" to supporting Ukraine "for as long as it takes."
Trump has repeatedly called for a quick end to the war. On Monday, he said that Zelenskiy should be prepared to conclude a peace deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, although he did not specify whether this meant that Kyiv would have to cede territory to Moscow.
"Russia must not win," the EU draft conclusions say, adding that no initiative on Ukraine should be implemented without Kyiv's participation.
One EU diplomat called the draft text "a clear signal to the United States.
Наступний рік повинен стати часом встановлення миру - Зеленський16.12.24, 21:55
The leaders will also discuss broader EU-US relations amid fears of a possible transatlantic trade war.
Trump said that the EU will "pay a heavy price" in tariffs for not buying enough American exports. He has already promised high tariffs for the three largest US trading partners - Canada, Mexico and China.
Some EU diplomats have said that the key for the bloc will be unity and Washington's avoidance of discussions or deals with individual EU members - a copy of its generally successful unified strategy in dealing with Britain during the Brexit negotiations.
"The US may try individual negotiations, but so far I haven't seen countries fall for it," said one EU diplomat.
The EU will try to emphasize that it is the second largest trading partner of the United States and a close ally with shared values. However, mindful that Trump is concerned about the US trade deficit in goods, EU officials are discussing a potential offer to buy more US LNG or arms.
The discussion on "The EU in the World" is likely to also address China and whether the bloc will be forced to take sides in the US-China trade conflict, as well as Britain, which has said it wants to reset ties with the European Union and is seen by the bloc as an important security ally.
Загроза мит Трампа посилює побоювання щодо зростання Китаю - FT19.12.24, 08:55