The visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Germany underlined just how complex and urgently needed a resolution to the ongoing conflict with Russia was. The Berlin negotiations with US envoys and European leaders were portrayed as difficult yet productive, which marked tentative progress toward peace coupled with addressing urgent defense needs of Ukraine.
Constructive but Difficult Talks
Zelensky also admitted that the diplomatic negotiations were not easy, yet they provided real results. During two days of discussions, a way forward on peace was discussed in detail, along with ideas on security, finance and post-war reconstruction.
The positive tone indicates the readiness of the parties to work on substantial issues, even though obvious political and logistical barriers still remain in place.
Frozen Russian Assets & Ukraine’s Defence
The main issue was, of course, spending the frozen Russian assets on boosting the military potential of Ukraine. Zelensky called on the European Union to immediately invest money confiscated from Russians in Ukraine’s defense.
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The EU has come up with the idea of raising around €90 billion in the next two years through loans to Kyiv, which might be covered later with Russian reparations. Although several EU members are behind the plan, opposition against legal and financial risk fears above all driven by Belgium have delayed implementation of the proposal.
EU Leaders Implore Urgency
With an EU summit on 18 December, the leaders stressed the need for urgency. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that failure to overcome the deadlock risks hurting EU credibility on the global scene.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas voiced the same urgency, underlining that crucial decisions are still to be taken and leaders committed to securing tangible results during the summit.
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Optimism for a Peace Process
Despite the difficulties, Zelensky and European leaders were cautiously optimistic. Merz called proposed US security assurances for Ukraine an important step in the direction of a tenable process of peace.
This complex discussion in Berlin has moved the process of conflict resolution one way or another and thus gives a little bit of hope that integrated international support may, in due course, provide the region with lasting stability.
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Disclaimer: This article summarizes publicly reported statements and developments and is intended for informational purposes; details may evolve.
