European leaders committed to provide robust security guarantees and economic recovery support measures for Ukraine

European leaders have welcomed the significant progress made in recent days and weeks towards securing a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, in talks between Ukrainian, American and European teams. 

In a statement released after their meeting in Berlin on 15 December and signed by President of the European Council António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German chancellor Friedrich Merz, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer,  the leaders agreed that ensuring the security, sovereignty, and prosperity of Ukraine was integral for wider Euro-Atlantic security.

Both US and European leaders have committed to work together to provide robust security guarantees and economic recovery support measures for Ukraine in the context of an agreement on ending the war, and invited other countries to join the statement.

This would include commitments to:

• Provide sustained and significant support to Ukraine to build its armed forces, which should remain at a peacetime level of 800,000 to be able to deter conflict and defend Ukraine’s territory.
• A European-led ‘multinational force Ukraine’ made up of contributions from willing nations within the framework of the Coalition of the Willing and supported by the United States. 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-led ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism with international participation to provide early warning of any future attack and attribute and respond to any breaches along with a deconfliction mechanism to work on mutual de-escalatory actions that can be taken to benefit all parties.
• A legally binding commitment, subject to national procedures, to take measures to restore peace and security in the case of a future armed attack. These measures may include armed force, intelligence and logistical assistance, economic and diplomatic actions.
• Invest in the future prosperity of Ukraine, including making major resources available for recovery and reconstruction, mutually beneficial trade agreements, and taking into account the need for Russia to compensate Ukraine for the damage caused. In this vein, Russian sovereign assets in the European Union have been immobilised.
• Strongly support Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.

The leaders expressed their support for President Zelenskyy and agreed to support whatever decisions he ultimately makes on specific Ukrainian issues.

“It is now incumbent upon Russia to show willingness to work towards a lasting peace by agreeing to President Trump’s peace plan and to demonstrate their commitment to end the fighting by agreeing to a ceasefire,” the leaders added. They also agreed to continue to increase pressure on Russia to bring Moscow to negotiate in earnest.

​​Following the meeting on peace for Ukraine convened by German Chancellor Merz, Ursula von Leyen said: “Russia must feel sustained pressure to come to the negotiating table – not for show, but for results. To this end, Europe will continue to raise the cost of Russia’s war. We have a new sanctions package in preparation. And we have immobilised Russian assets in the EU over the long term.” 

She also recalled her proposal to cover two-thirds of Ukraine’s financing needs for the next two years (around €90 billion) and said the discussions at the European Council this week would be “decisive”. The European Council will take place on 18 and 19 December.

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Press release