Europe seeks a seat at the Ukraine negotiating table.

"Don't leave anyone behind"

During a virtual meeting of leaders on March 15th regarding the conflict in Ukraine, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the focus now is on strengthening Ukraine's capabilities, protecting any ceasefires agreed upon by all parties, and maintaining pressure on Russia, AFP reported. According to Starmer, this meeting saw a larger turnout than the one held two weeks prior, with leaders demonstrating stronger resolve and additional commitments being discussed.

Ukrainian President Zelensky participated in a virtual meeting with European leaders on March 15.

Also at the aforementioned meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron called on Europe and the United States to coordinate to put clear pressure on Russia, forcing Moscow to sit down at the negotiating table. European Union (EU) diplomats also proposed on March 14th to double the bloc's military aid to Ukraine, to 40 billion euros this year.

The statements from European leaders came after a US delegation met with Ukrainian officials last week, followed by a trip to Moscow to meet with Russian officials. From these talks, the US proposed a 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine agreed to. Russian President Vladimir Putin also expressed support for the proposal, but with conditions attached. In addition, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by phone with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on March 15th to discuss the next steps to end the conflict in Ukraine, following a virtual meeting of Western leaders that same day.

What does Putin want from the ceasefire in Ukraine?

Notably, in the most direct meetings between the parties involved last week, Europe was left out. Officials from EU member states repeatedly expressed concern that the bloc's interests and security were not being considered when the US and Russia directly negotiated about the conflict in Europe. This partly explains why, following the US delegation's trip to Moscow, the security and foreign policy advisors of Germany, the UK, and France traveled to the US to discuss the issue with National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

According to Politico , the trip to the US was hastily planned following developments in the Ukraine ceasefire negotiations and the positions of the parties involved. Europe's current challenge is ensuring that all members agree on the decisions, while one EU member, Hungary, opposes supporting Ukraine.

Efforts by the British Prime Minister

In Europe's efforts to strengthen its voice on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is seen as playing a crucial role in bridging the gap between allies, amidst emerging divisions between the US and the EU.

From left to right: The President of France, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and the President of Ukraine at a meeting in London, England on March 2.

According to The New York Times , the British leader actively urged US President Donald Trump to guarantee Ukraine's security and take measures to deter Russia. Starmer also offered advice to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on mending relations with the White House after their "disastrous" meeting on February 28th.

Former British Ambassador to the EU Ivan Rogers said Starmer's diplomatic efforts have impressed some European leaders, who have become accustomed to London's lack of presence or ambiguous stances on international issues in recent years. Meanwhile, Peter Ricketts, who served as national security adviser under former British Prime Minister David Cameron, told The New York Times that Starmer is bringing Britain back into a bridging role between transatlantic partners. Britain's departure from the EU after Brexit is making London's voice as a mediator even more noteworthy at this time.

Trump says Russia should spare the lives of Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk, Putin calls for surrender.

However, the British Prime Minister's approach will also face challenges. Analysts believe that neutrality will help London temporarily avoid getting caught in the middle of tensions between the US and the EU. However, as tensions escalate and the two sides take differing positions on Ukraine, Starmer will face the difficult task of making decisions that do not offend either side.

An agreement has yet to be reached, and both sides continue their airstrikes.

Amidst the uncertain prospect of a ceasefire, Russia and Ukraine continue their airstrikes against each other's territory. The Russian Ministry of Defense announced yesterday that it shot down 31 Ukrainian drones targeting the Voronezh, Belgorod, Rostov, and Kursk provinces, according to Reuters. Conversely, Ukraine accused Russia of launching 90 drones in the early hours of March 16th, and Ukrainian air defenses claimed to have shot down 47. The Ukrainian military reported that the Chernihiv, Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odessa provinces were affected by the attack.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chau-au-tim-mot-ghe-tren-ban-dam-phan-ukraine-185250316213838945.htm