European foreign ministers have insisted that any peace deal to end the war in Ukraine must involve Ukrainian and European input, following reports of a draft US-Russian plan that would be favourable to Moscow. The EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said Europeans must be included in any "meaningful efforts" to broker peace.
Speaking after a meeting of EU foreign ministers, Kallas said Russia had shown no concessions and that peace must be "just and lasting". She stressed the EU's strategy remained to "weaken Russia" and "support Ukraine". German foreign minister Johann Wadephul echoed that, saying negotiations could only take place with Ukraine, and that "Europe will have to be included".
French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot said peace could not mean capitulation, and called for a ceasefire on the line of contact. Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski said Europe was the "main supporter" of Ukraine and expected to be consulted, adding that it was the aggressor whose potential should be restricted. The remarks came after a Russian attack on western Ukraine killed at least 26 people.
The draft US-Russian plan, reported in media, would require Ukraine to surrender territory and cede control over its political and military sovereignty. Meanwhile, the EU remains deadlocked over a plan to use Russian frozen assets for a €140bn loan to Ukraine, with Belgium seeking legal guarantees. Russia's Duma voted unanimously to pursue legal action against Belgium and Euroclear over any confiscation.
The Duma resolution stated that the confiscation of Russian assets would violate the country's sovereign rights. Earlier, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen warned that Ukraine faced a €136bn shortfall in 2026-27, and proposed a loan based on the frozen assets. EU leaders are expected to discuss the plan at a summit next month.
