Statements from European Union or NATO regarding leadership in peace negotiations

Trump Aims for Ukraine Ceasefire Before Inauguration, European Leaders Push for NATO Membership

Dec 16, 2024, 06:40 AM

President-elect Donald Trump's team is actively engaging with Ukrainian leaders and the White House to broker a ceasefire in the ongoing war with Russia before his inauguration on January 20, 2025. Trump has expressed his desire to achieve a ceasefire on his first day in office, although he acknowledges potential difficulties in dealing with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Amidst these efforts, Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans has suggested that European countries should take the lead in peace negotiations to ensure that Trump and Putin do not unilaterally decide Europe's security architecture. This comes as Trump has been skeptical about U.S. support for Ukraine and NATO, yet there is a push for a strategic framework proposed by Michael McFaul in Foreign Affairs, which could involve Ukraine nominally relinquishing some territory to Russia in exchange for NATO membership.