This past week was marked by rising tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukraine. Ukraine and the EU were not invited to U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Ukraine will not accept the agreements made in its absence at the meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said.
The EU is working on a major aid package for Ukraine amid concerns that Zelenskyi could be pushed into disastrous deal with Russia, Bloomberg said. Europe is ready to take a lead in providing security guarantees for the country, NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte said after an emergency meeting of European leaders on Monday. Yet the bloc failed to agree on sending troops to Ukraine to police a possible peace deal. The U.S. won’t quit NATO, but may reduce its troop presence in Europe, NATO’s military committee chair said.
U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg is in Ukraine for a three-day visit. He met with Zelenskyi on Thursday, but made no press statements. Zelenskyi said he had a “productive meeting” with Kellogg.
This week, EU capitals have agreed a fresh sanctions package against Russia.
European leaders to visit Ukraine on third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion. European leaders will visit Ukraine on Monday, February 24, to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will be there in person, they announced on X, while leaders from Lithuania, Latvia, Malta and Canada will join either in person or virtually in a unified show of support, several officials told POLITICO.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola will also participate, though it remains to be confirmed “in which format she will be able to join” due to previous commitments, her spokesperson told POLITICO.
Several people involved in organizing the meeting said they could not disclose the names of the leaders attending for security reasons.