Europe welcomes the ceasefire of Ukraine and the revival of American aid

The Europeans’ reaction to relief to the announcement on Tuesday was that Ukraine agreed with the United States to a 30 -day ceasefire in its war with Russia and waited impatiently for Moscow’s response.

They were comfortable Because Washington announced simultaneously It will immediately support the military and intelligence of Ukraine. There was an expectation that Russia would now respond to a type, or it is assumed that President Trump would put at least a kind of pressure on Moscow on the scandalous tools he used against Ukraine.

“The ball is now in the Russian court,” said European Union leaders, Antonio Costa and Orrsola von der Lin, in coordination. Messages on social media Welcome to the deal and Repeating the statement Foreign Minister Marco Rubio.

But in the same sentence, European leaders also welcomed the resumption of American security support to Ukraine, giving him an equal focus.

The message said on Tuesday: “We welcome today’s news from Jeddah at the US -Ukraine talks, including the suggestion of the ceasefire and the resumption of US intelligence and security assistance.” “This is a positive development that can be a step towards a comprehensive, fair and lasting peace for Ukraine.”

They also tried to remind Mr. Trump and his team that if Washington wanted Europe To ensure any peace deal in UkraineEurope wants to be at the negotiating table. “The European Union”, the letter (hint, hint) said, “ready to play its full role, along with its partners, in the upcoming peace negotiations.”

In general, European leaders were shocked by anger before The famous oval office news media On February 28, Mr. Trump’s apparent acceptance of the Russian novel that began Ukraine began the war.

They were also shocked when Mr. Trump’s special envoy, Keith Keel,, He said Ukraine had to harm his head, “like beating a mule with their nose”, to get it to comply with the demands of Mr. Trump. Wood turned into a denial of US military and US intelligence support to Ukraine, its missiles and American combat aircraft.

This prompted in Europe, such as Natalie Toki, Director of the International Affairs Institute in Italy, to ask whether Washington will do the same with them one day, and whether it is good to buy a lot of high-tech American weapons, such as F-35 aircraft, which depend on American software and integration with American Satial.

European leaders gathered in Paris, London and Brussels last week, and this is one of Ukraine’s promises that continued support and even increased support. “Ukraine is the issue of our security,” Nurbert Rotin, an foreign policy expert and a German member of Parliament told Christian Democrats. “If Ukraine falls, this will be a clear threat to Europe.”

But the main point, which was confirmed by President Emmanuel Macron from France and Prime Minister Kiir Starmer from Britain, was that Ukraine needed American support. Europe, despite all promises to continue providing Ukraine with money and weapons, cannot replace the major American capabilities such as intelligence and missile defense, at least not in the near future.

So European leaders also felt comfortable to understand Mr. Zelinski for his timers. After the bombing of the Oval Office, they are I worked hard to persuade Mr. Zelinski To Kowtow to the White House with frequent expressions of gratitude for Mr. Trump’s relief. Mr. Zelinski did this, while he promised to continue to support another request for Mr. Trump to provide the United States by reaching the mineral wealth in Ukraine, and a share of it besides it.

The Europeans urge Mr. Zellinski to go now to pressure Russia and help Mr. Trump to see that his President Vladimir F. Putin is the problem.

Defense ministers met one of the most important military forces in Europe – France, Italy, Germany, Poland and Britain – in Paris on Wednesday, a day after Military heads gathered from more than 30 countries In the French capital To discuss the security guarantees of Ukraine, including the potential composition of the multinational peacekeeping power to monitor any ceasefire.

However, the defense ministers did not give any concrete details about the volume or the potential mission of the power of peacekeeping, describing such early discussions at a time when the fighting was still ready between Russia and Ukraine.

“We should not put the vehicle in front of the horse,” said Sebastian Lecorno, France’s Minister of Defense, who represented his counterparts.

He later added: “You will not ask the European forces to do the work of the Ukrainian army.”

Europeans have also met for preliminary discussions about what they might be ready to ensure a long -term deal in the future between Ukraine and Russia. Much is still unknown, including the purpose of this force, its size, financing and leadership structure. But Europeans know that they will need American cooperation and air support to make such a credible task.

It is also not clear that Moscow will attach to its current rejection of thinking about allowing European forces in Ukraine, given that one of the main goals of Russia’s invasion is to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and allowing NATO forces to get there.

But Mr. Macron in particular has gone further, and seeing American turning against Ukraine as another sign that Europe should do more for its defense and not depend much on the United States that appears Unfortunately in Europe, if not publicly hostile Therefore, economically and politically.

Now the Europeans, like the Ukrainians, are waiting for Mr. Putin’s response. So far, he and his officials rejected the idea of ​​a ceasefire before a final settlement of the conflict. There are no guarantees that even if the ceasefire is set for 30 days, the war will not expect, which gives some impression at least that Mr. Trump simply wants to show a victory that he could stop killing, even temporarily.

Aurelien PREDEREN She contributed to the reports from Paris.