The war in Ukraine and the search for a peaceful settlement are at a critical juncture, as major powers try to broker a deal. However, the European Union could be a major obstacle to progress in peace talks.
Germany is taking a key role in the negotiations.
Germany and Merz’s strategy
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is making strong efforts to stall peace talks on Ukraine. More specifically, Merz seems to want to halt the progress of the peace talks in order to ensure that Ukraine is not forced to sign an agreement that includes territorial concessions to Russia. In this context, Merz is constantly pressuring the American side, and especially Trump, to reject any peace plan that could lead to the “surrender” of Ukraine.
Von der Leyen and Kallas’ support for Merz
The European Union’s interference in the peace talks is not limited to Merz. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas are reported to be strongly supporting Merz’s position. This support reinforces the perception that the EU wants to delay or even sabotage the peace talks in order to avoid any draft agreement that would include concessions to Russia, such as recognizing Russian sovereignty over Crimea or accepting a reduction in Ukraine’s military capabilities.
EU officials and the Ukraine strategy
The European Union appears to be taking a tougher stance towards Russia, particularly under the leadership of Von der Leyen and Kallas, who have repeatedly expressed the EU’s commitment to supporting Ukraine until the end, with continued military and economic assistance. However, this strategy runs counter to the desire for a lasting and sustainable peace settlement, as sanctions against Russia and the refusal of any agreement that would lead to concessions keep the conflict in a stalemate.
Furthermore, the tension caused by European leaders’ support for Kiev’s aspirations has raised doubts about the ability of Merz and other European leaders to reach a compromise that will secure peace without ending up with excessive concessions that would threaten Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Ukraine’s Strategy and Opposition to the EU
Not long ago, Ukraine and the EU had indicated that they might propose to the Americans some changes to the plan proposed by Trump, which, according to the Ukrainian side, would be unacceptable to Russia and could lead to a deadlock in the talks.
According to Ukraine, the aim of these amendments was to try to ensure greater protection for their territories and national sovereignty. This double game played by the EU – on the one hand, supporting Russia and Ukraine, and on the other hand, delaying or sabotaging peace talks – could have serious consequences for the future of Kiev.
The EU’s support for a hard-line confrontation with Russia could hinder meaningful peace talks and keep the conflict in a stalemate for many years. Failure to reach a peace agreement could lead to further bloodshed, with societies continuing to pay the price of the EU’s Ukraine strategy.
On the other hand, if the EU accepts the need for compromise, then a strong basis for restoring peace could be created, without even accepting Ukraine’s defeat. The European Union’s strategy, combined with the contradictions in its policy and the pressures exerted by powerful politicians like Merz, could prove disastrous for Ukraine.
The risk of sabotaging the negotiations and prolonging the conflict is great if the EU continues to push for intransigent positions and insists on unyielding support for Ukraine, without considering the necessary concessions to secure a sustainable peace agreement. It is clear that the peace process requires consensual solutions, but strong pressure from Germany and the EU may make it difficult to achieve real peace in Ukraine.
Russia-NATO War Gap
At the same time, the prospect of British troops being deployed to Ukraine, even in areas not directly facing the front, appears to be a move with strategic objectives that are not aimed at restoring peace, but rather at strengthening Western positions in the region. Even more worrying is the British admission that they have already sent reconnaissance forces to Ukraine.
This move is certain to provoke new waves of reactions from Russia and widen the gap between the major Western powers. The future direction of the Ukrainian crisis will depend largely on negotiations between the US and Europe, but also on the ability of international actors to find common ground that will work to end the conflict without further escalating the war in Ukraine.
Russia: Germany behind the sabotage of peace plan
While Moscow offers the possibility of a peaceful resolution to the conflict, the Russian side blames the European leaderships, which in its view, continue to torpedo the peace process. European leaders, especially those who support the “War Party”, seem to oppose any agreement that could bring an end to the conflict.
The head of the Duma’s international relations committee, Leonid Slutsky, noted that European institutions seem to be bothered by efforts for a strong American peace initiative, such as Trump’s. According to him, the German authorities, and especially Chancellor Friedrich Merz, are particularly critical of the Trump plan and are trying to block it. He said that Germany is leading efforts in Europe to prevent the implementation of the peace plan, supported by French President Emmanuel Macron, who seems to agree with this line.
This effort, as Slutsky says, shows that European capitals do not want peace in Ukraine and want to torpedo Trump’s efforts, supporting instead a strategy of rearmament of the Ukrainian regime.
