At the EU Summit: Two Hours of Closed-Door Talks on Peace and Support with Zelenskyy.

European Union Leaders Summit

According to Espreso.tv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took part in a summit of European Union leaders, where critical issues concerning Ukraine were discussed, including support and peace negotiations with Russia. The discussions lasted three hours, with two hours dedicated to a direct conversation with Zelenskyy. This summit took place on June 18, 2023, in Brussels, coinciding with a NATO defense ministers' meeting and a session of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the 'Ramstein' format.

Initially, EU leaders had planned to address the Ukrainian matter in under an hour, but the conversation actually extended much longer. Tetiana Vysotska noted that

“in total, it was three hours, and all three hours took place behind closed doors: only leaders and ambassadors were present, without mobile phones.”

Diplomatic Efforts and International Reaction

A significant event preceding the summit was António Costa’s attempt on June 17, 2023, to establish contact with the Kremlin. However, Costa clarified that

“this, according to him, was merely establishing diplomatic communication”

“no messages or proposals were transmitted from either side.”

As a result, the EU leaders’ summit served as a crucial platform for discussing Ukraine-related matters and reaffirmed the international community’s readiness to respond to the evolving situation in the region.

The summit discussions highlight the European Union’s growing focus on Ukrainian issues, particularly in the context of the war with Russia. The prolonged debate signals the seriousness of the situation and a desire to reach a compromise in peace negotiations. Establishing diplomatic contact with the Kremlin also points to international actors’ efforts to find pathways for de-escalating the conflict and potentially restoring peace in the region.