EU Leaders Reject Russia–Ukraine Peace Plan Drafted Without Kyiv or Europe
Macron, Merz and Baltic leaders insist peace terms must include Ukraine and Europe at the table
European, Dec 02 : Leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, have firmly rejected any Russia-Ukraine peace agreement drafted or negotiated “without Ukrainians and Europeans,” stressing that no deal can be imposed over Kyiv’s or Europe’s heads.
Speaking at the Elysee Palace after talks with visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Macron said on Monday that any peace plan concerning the conflict “can only be finalised with the Europeans around the table,” adding that issues such as frozen Russian assets, security guarantees and Ukraine’s EU accession must involve both Ukraine and European partners. He also emphasised that “there is no finalised peace plan as such today.”
Zelensky said Ukraine seeks to end the war “in a dignified manner,” calling for “solid” security guarantees, while acknowledging that territorial issues would be the most challenging aspect of future negotiations. The Elysee confirmed that Macron and Zelensky also held discussions with a wider group of European leaders as well as US and Ukrainian negotiators.
Germany, Poland, Latvia Echo Macron’s Position
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reinforced Europe’s stance, declaring after a meeting with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Berlin that Germany opposes any “dictated peace” imposed on Ukraine. “No decision about Ukraine and Europe without Ukrainians and without Europeans,” Merz said.
Tusk reiterated Poland’s support for Kyiv and highlighted joint efforts with Germany to bolster European security.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics similarly said Europe “must also be at the negotiating table” in any peace settlement. He told Latvian Radio that most EU and NATO leaders agree on three essential principles: Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and long-term security interests.
US Diplomacy Continues as Moscow Prepares for More Talks
The diplomatic push comes as Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet US presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Tuesday to discuss routes to ending the conflict.
A US-drafted 28-point peace plan was unveiled two weeks earlier. Representatives from the United States, Ukraine and several European nations met in Geneva on November 23 to discuss the proposal. On Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Witkoff held talks with a Ukrainian delegation in Hallandale Beach, Florida.
