Europe Laid Out a Six-Point Security Guarantees Plan for Ukraine
European leaders issued a joint statement , in which they announced joint support with the USA and the provision of security guarantees for Ukraine.
Participants of the meeting in Berlin, which took place on December 14-15. From left to right in the first row: French President Emmanuel Macron, Federal Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Donald Trump's special representative Steve Whitkoff, Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni; in the second row: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Prime Minister of the Netherlands Dick Schoof, Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson. Photo: AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, Pool
The plan provides for:
- Permanent military support for Ukraine. The number of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) is maintained at 800,000 personnel in peacetime to deter potential aggression and defend territory;
- Multinational forces for Ukraine under European leadership: they are formed within a "coalition of the willing" with US support — for the restoration of the AFU, air defense, and maritime security, with possible operations inside Ukraine;
- Ceasefire control mechanism: US-led monitoring with international participation — for early warning of attacks, documenting violations, and responding to them;
- Legally binding security guarantees: in case of attack — an obligation to respond with military, intelligence, economic, and diplomatic measures;
- Funding for reconstruction, trade agreements, and compensation for damages from Russia. Russian assets in the EU remain frozen;
- Support for Ukraine's accession to the EU.
The document emphasizes that the decision on territorial issues must remain with Ukraine.
“[European leaders] reaffirmed that international borders should not be changed by force. Decisions on territory are to be made by the people of Ukraine once reliable security guarantees are effectively in place. They agreed that some issues would need to be resolved at the final stage of negotiations. They emphasized that they would support President Zelenskyy in consulting the people if necessary,” the statement reads.