EU foreign ministers are meeting at what the Tánaiste has called a “critical moment” for Ukraine.
It follows President Zelenskyy’s meeting with US President, Donald Trump last week.
A report of that meeting in the Financial Times over the weekend claimed that Trump urged Zelenskyy to accept Putin’s terms or be destroyed by Russia.
That line is being downplayed by the Europeans.
“I think the Ukrainians are less negative than you presume”, Dutch Foreign Minister, David van Weel, said on his way into the meeting in Luxembourg this morning.
The Ukrainians remain “fully convinced that President Trump wants to end this war on fair terms”, he added.
Ukraine’s foreign minister is also attending and is expected to provide EU ministers with a more detailed debrief on the Trump/Zelenskyy meeting.
Speaking ahead of his arrival in Luxembourg, Tánaiste Simon Harris TD said:
“We gather at a critical moment for Ukraine and European security in the face of Russia’s continuing war of aggression. I look forward to hearing from the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
“I condemn Russia’s ongoing missile attacks on Ukrainian cities and cynical attacks on critical infrastructure ahead of winter.
“I will be taking the opportunity to reiterate Ireland’s steadfast solidarity and support for Ukraine, our support for further sanctions on Russia, as well as our strong support for Ukraine’s EU accession.”
Speculation is rife about a meeting of Trump and Russia’s President Putin in Budapest expected in the coming weeks.
Russian planes are banned from EU airspace meaning Putin will need special dispensation to even be able to jet into Hungary for that meeting.
Simon Harris said holding such a meeting on European Union soil ” is somewhat provocative, but anything that can bring about peace would be welcomed.”
Zelenskyy has urged Donald Trump to “get tougher” with Putin. The Ukrainian President also indicated that he would be ready to join the summit himself.
“I think it is important that President Zelensky also meets Putin”, said the EU’s foreign affairs chief, Kaya Kallas this morning.
“If America has a lot of strength to pressure Russia to come to the negotiation table, if they use that, then, of course, this is good if Russia stops this war.”