European Leaders Discuss Support Strategies for Ukraine

European nations are convening today to deliberate on their ongoing support for Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. In Brussels, EU heads of state and government are gathering for a crucial summit, while military representatives from various European and allied nations are meeting in London to discuss potential troop deployments aimed at securing a peace agreement.

As the war in Ukraine continues, reports from Kyiv indicate that the country was once again targeted overnight by a large-scale Russian drone assault. Air alerts were issued across the eastern regions of Ukraine, with the Ukrainian Air Force reporting that the drones approached from multiple directions. In the front-line city of Kupjansk, Russian aircraft dropped approximately 20 glide bombs, resulting in one casualty and damage to civilian infrastructure.

Despite the ongoing hostilities, a temporary cessation of attacks on energy infrastructure has been agreed upon by both Russia and Ukraine, facilitated by diplomatic discussions led by US President Donald Trump. However, this minimal compromise is limited in scope and has yet to be put into effect.

At the Brussels summit, which is expected to be the last regular EU meeting for outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, significant decisions are not anticipated. Nevertheless, EU Foreign Affairs Representative Kaja Kallas aims to secure the commitment of two million artillery shells for Ukraine. Kallas previously sought a broader initiative for military aid ranging from EUR20 billion to EUR40 billion, but did not garner sufficient backing.

Meanwhile, the London military discussions will include British and French officers, as well as representatives from the German armed forces. These conversations are a continuation of previous talks among a coalition of willing nations, focusing on exploring available options for troop involvement and contributions from individual countries.

Both the UK and France are prepared to send ground troops to Ukraine for peacekeeping purposes, but they are insisting on assurances from the US in the event of escalating tensions--a request that has not been met thus far. Moscow has consistently opposed the deployment of NATO soldiers in Ukraine.

After Russian President Vladimir Putin's call, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also agreed to a temporary halt of attacks on energy infrastructure during a conversation with Trump. Zelenskyy emphasized that the aim is to stop Russian strikes on energy supplies and other civilian structures, which could serve as a preliminary step towards ending the conflict and restoring safety.

Russian assaults have primarily targeted power stations and the overall energy system of Ukraine, leading to significant power outages for the Ukrainian population. In retaliation, Ukraine has conducted drone strikes on Russian oil facilities to disrupt fuel supplies for the Russian military and diminish financial resources for its war efforts. The impact on the Russian civilian population has been minimal, with a fuel depot in the Krasnodar region still ablaze following an overnight attack.

The specifics of the proposed 30-day ceasefire will be discussed in upcoming US-Ukrainian talks expected to take place in Saudi Arabia. Zelenskyy has insisted that the US must oversee the enforcement of this ceasefire. The US government also plans to engage in similar discussions with Russia, aiming to pave the way for more comprehensive negotiations to conclude the nearly three-year conflict.

During his conversation with Trump, Zelenskyy clarified that discussions surrounding the Ukrainian nuclear power plants focused solely on the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia facility. While Trump had suggested that the US take control of all four Ukrainian nuclear plants as a security guarantee, Zelenskyy noted that their conversation was limited to Zaporizhzhia. Currently, Ukraine maintains control over three nuclear power plants, while Russia occupied Zaporizhzhia in 2022 and continues to hold it. The potential role of this facility in future security agreements will depend on Ukraine's ability to regain control of it and resume operations.

The US government, through statements from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump's National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, indicated that the US could significantly assist in the operation of the nuclear plants by leveraging its expertise in electricity and energy supply. They contended that these facilities and the broader Ukrainian energy infrastructure would be best safeguarded under US ownership.