European leaders back ‘multinational force’ to secure peace in Ukraine, as US commits to security guarantees
European leaders have called for a “multinational force” to secure Ukraine after any peace deal with Russia, as they struck an optimistic tone after talks in Berlin.
In a joint statement, they heralded “significant progress” – boosted by a new US commitment to provide unspecified security guarantees to Ukraine.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the guarantees by the US as “truly remarkable” and a “very important advancement”.
Adding to the positive mood music, Donald Trump said he believed “we are closer now than we have been ever” to agreeing a ceasefire for the deadliest conflict in Europe since the Second World War.
The comments round off two days of talks in Berlin between Ukrainian and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and a separate meeting of European leaders in the German capital.
Another high-level meeting, this time of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, will be held on Tuesday. The British defence secretary, John Healey, will attend.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was not quite as cheery after Monday’s developments, called the talks on conceding territories to Russia “painful” and “very difficult”.
He told reporters in Berlin: “Frankly speaking, we still have different positions.”
Earlier, his security officials claimed to have dealt a lethal strike to a $400m (£299m) Russian submarine in the Black Sea – a claim that Russia rejected.
“The information from the Ukrainian special services about the alleged destruction of one of Russia’s submarines is not true”, said the Black Sea Fleet command.
Not a single ship or submarine of the Black Sea Fleet in the Novorossiysk base bay, nor their crews, were injured in the sabotage, the fleet command said.
Back in Berlin, European leaders issued a joint statement on behalf of the leaders of Germany, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and the UK, as well as the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission.
European, US and Ukrainian officials convened in the chancellery in Berlin. Pic: AP
The document said the leaders “welcomed the close work between President Zelenskyy’s and President Trump’s teams, as well as European teams over the recent days and weeks”.
“They agreed to work together with President Trump and President Zelenskyy to get to a lasting peace, which preserves Ukrainian sovereignty and European security.
“Leaders appreciated the strong convergence between the United States, Ukraine and Europe.”
Outlining what they considered necessary security guarantees, the leaders said the “multinational force” should be made up of countries from the so-called Coalition of the Willing and “supported by the US”.
They also said they “strongly support” Ukraine joining the European Union, and that it should be able to maintain its armed forces at a level of 800,000.
“It will assist in the regeneration of Ukraine’s forces, in securing Ukraine’s skies, and in supporting safer seas, including through operating inside Ukraine.”
A US official said about 90% of issues between the warring parties had been resolved and that they believed Russia would be open to Ukraine joining the European Union, and to the security guarantees in the deal.
