The leaders of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany said in a summit on Thursday (27) that Europe will not suspend sanctions on Russia, noting that this is not a time for this-a strong and apparently coordinated and directed message to Donald Trump’s government.
The United States said this week that they evaluate Kremlin’s demands for sanction survey so that a truce in the Black Sea will enter into force.
The declaration of the European leaders was made after a meeting of the so -called “willing coalition” in Paris, which discussed how to reinforce support for Ukraine and what role they can play if a peace agreement is closed with Russia.
Although there are still divisions among the authorities, they agreed to deny Russia’s demand to relieve sanctions.
“(There is) total clarity that it is not the time to suspend sanctions now,” said British Prime Minister Keir Stmerer.
“Quite the contrary – what we discuss is how we can increase, to bring Russia to the table through more pressure from this group of countries,” said the premie, adopting a conciliatory tone from the United States.
Stmerr reported that, including European allies from Ukraine and NATO authorities, the Western Military Alliance. He described the meeting as “very constructive.”
In turn, the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz,
“It makes no sense to end the sanctions until peace is actually achieved and, unfortunately, we are still far from it, as you can see,” he said.
“There was absolute clarity that Russia is trying to delay [o acordo de cessar-fogo]is playing. And we have to be absolutely clear about it, ”added Stmerer.
France clarifies possible to send peace troops
France also clarified a proposal to send European armies forces to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.
The French government and the United Kingdom previously suggested the idea of sending peace forces to Ukraine and said they would be willing to “put boots on the ground.” But his last discussions focused on an alternative term: “guarantee forces.”
“These would be forces from various states … present in pre-identified strategic locations with Ukrainians, who would provide long-term support, warranty for armies and act as an impediment to potential Russian aggression,” said President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday.
He added that these troops would never serve as a “replacement for the Ukrainian army.”
Regarding support for the “guarantee forces,” Macron said: “It was not unanimous today, as we all know, and we don’t need unanimity.”
Leaders discuss the UN role in ceasefire
The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, said the allies discussed the possibility that the UN play some role in applying a ceasefire, but stressed that the Italian forces would not participate in a possible military force implanted in Ukraine.
“During the meeting, the leaders also discussed the importance of implementation and effective monitoring of ceasefire, in which a possible role for the United Nations is emerging, in line with the position of the Italian government,” said the government of Italy.
Meloni, an ally near Trump in Europe, also expressed hope that the United States will attend the next coalition meeting.
The United States is not currently a member of Macron’s ‘willing coalition’ acknowledging that although he “expects” the US supports European implantation in Ukraine, Europe needs to “prepare for a situation in which they (the US) will not commit to” Ukraine security.
Russia repeatedly said that it would consider any foreign military presence in Ukraine “unacceptable.”
The French president also announced plans for a Franco-British team to be sent to Ukraine to help Kiev “prepare the Ukrainian army format of tomorrow.”
Zelensky asks for greater pressure against Russia
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky also asked.
“All 31 votes today supported that there will be no survey of any sanction against Russia until this war ends in a fair peace,” Zelensky said in a Paris press conference.
He also asked for unity in what he classified as the desire of Russian President Vladimir Putin of “dividing Europe and America.”
“We want America [Estados Unidos] Be stronger. I agree with Emmanuel [Macron] that we all need it. It is not even a matter of desire, but we need America to be stronger about Russia, ”said the Ukrainian President.
Previously, in a post on social networks, the leader argued that “Putin wants to negotiate about territory of a stronger position. He is thinking only of war.”
“They are prolonging negotiations and trying to arrest the US in endless and useless discussions about false ‘conditions’ just to gain time and then try to take more land,” Zelensky added.
Finally, he pointed out that Ukrainian intelligence indicates that Russian forces are preparing for new offensives against the regions of Sumy, Kharkiv and Zaporizehzia.
*Jennifer Hansler, too CNN, contributed to this report
