European leaders are meeting in person and via video link on the sidelines of a EU-African Union summit in Luanda, Angola.
European Union leaders are meeting on Nov. 24 for discussions on Ukraine amid the United States’ proposal for peace in the country, which emerged last week.
The gathering will take place on the sidelines of an EU-African Union summit in Luanda, Angola, with leaders not physically attending the summit joining via video link.
European Council President António Costa said in a Nov. 24 post on X that he had spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of the meeting “to get his assessment of the situation.”
“A united and coordinated EU position is key in ensuring a good outcome of peace negotiations – for Ukraine and for Europe,” he said.
Zelenskyy, speaking via video link from a separate summit of Ukraine’s allies in Sweden, said that Ukraine would “continue working with partners, especially the United States, to look for compromises that will strengthen but not weaken us.”
He added that Moscow must pay for the war, and that a decision on using frozen Russian assets was crucial.
“Right now, we are at a critical moment, and we are working with the United States, European partners, and many others to define steps that can end Russia’s war against us, against Ukraine, and bring real security,” he said.
It follows a busy weekend of transatlantic back and forth between Ukraine, Europe, and the United States after President Donald Trump’s plan to bring an end to the fighting between Moscow and Kyiv came to light on Nov. 20.
On Nov. 23, Washington and Kyiv said they had “updated and refined” the peace framework to end the war during talks in Geneva, Switzerland, following criticism that the previous proposal was too friendly to the Kremlin.
According to a joint statement issued by the White House, the new version of the agreement would provide stronger security guarantees to protect Ukraine from future attacks by Russia.
“Both sides … reaffirmed that any future agreement must fully uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty and deliver a sustainable and just peace,” the joint statement reads.
According to the White House, the Ukrainians said the deal “reflects their national interests.”
By Guy Birchall
