During a surprise visit to Ukraine, Josef Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, reaffirmed Europe’s unwavering support for the conflict-ridden nation. This visit coincides with Kyiv’s announcement of an impending meeting with US President-elect Donald Trump. This marks the first time a high-ranking EU official has visited Ukraine since Trump’s victory on November 5, stirring doubts in Kyiv regarding the West’s continued commitment to aid Ukraine in its resistance against the encroaching Russian forces.
Borrell’s unexpected visit comes at a time when Ukraine is facing continuous drone and missile attacks from Russia. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkov, revealed that Moscow was receptive to Trump’s proposals to halt the war that’s been raging for nearly 1,000 days. Trump, on his part, has expressed confidence in his ability to put an end to the conflict even before he officially assumes office on January 20.
Borrell, in his interaction with the press, clarified that the primary intention behind his visit was to reassure Ukraine of the EU’s unwavering support. He emphasized that this support was crucial for Ukraine to continue its defense against Russian aggression.
Ukraine has been a personal priority for Borrell during his tenure, and he reassured that the nation will continue to top the EU’s agenda. His comments followed a deadly attack on an apartment building in Ukraine’s port city of Odesa.
Trump’s electoral win has raised concerns in Kyiv, as Ukraine heavily relies on support from the US and EU amidst Russia’s ongoing invasion. Trump has proposed that Kyiv should surrender some territory to Moscow in return for peace, a suggestion Ukrainian President Zelenskiy has firmly rejected.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andriy Sybiha, expressed readiness to collaborate with the Trump administration. Sybiha confirmed that a meeting was being arranged between Zelenskiy and Trump, with the last meeting taking place in September when Zelenskiy visited the US to present his plan against Russia.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov, in an interview with Interfax, revealed that Moscow and Washington were communicating regarding Ukraine through confidential channels. He expressed a willingness to consider Trump’s proposals to end the war against Ukraine, provided they focused on moving forward towards settlement and not on further aiding the Kyiv regime.
The Telegraph reported that Trump might propose a freeze on the current front line, which cuts across significant parts of eastern Ukraine, setting up a buffer zone between Russian and Ukrainian forces. In return, Ukraine would agree not to join NATO for 20 years and Washington would provide Kyiv with a substantial cache of weapons to deter any further Russian aggression.
There’s still a lot of uncertainty regarding the policies that the incoming Trump administration will adopt. However, Borrell emphasized that the EU must seize this opportunity to build a stronger and united Europe, with their role in supporting Ukraine being a testament to their unity and strength.
Ukrainian troops are strained and weary from the constant Russian invasion in the east. Despite this, Russia continues to target civilian infrastructure with drone and missile attacks. Russia, on the other hand, denies targeting Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure.
In a recent development, Ukraine’s SBU Security Service reported a drone strike on the Aleksinsky chemical plant in the Tula region, approximately 200 kilometers south of Moscow. This plant is a major producer of gunpowder, ammunition, and weapons, and the attack seems to be part of a strategy to target factories that aid Moscow’s war against Ukraine.
