Unity of Stance Conceals Divisions: UK, France, Germany, and Ukraine Reach Framework for Aid in London Meeting, with Divergences in EU-UK Strategy

On the evening of June 7, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting at 10 Downing Street in London. Prior to the summit, a closed-door trilateral consultation among the UK, France, and Germany took place.

The backdrop of this meeting was Zelenskyy's public letter to Putin on June 4, proposing a face-to-face meeting in a third country. On June 5, Putin publicly rejected the proposal, calling the letter "provocative" and "meaningless," and emphasized that Europe should not serve as a mediator. Meanwhile, US-led peace efforts have slowed down, prompting the UK, France, and Germany to unify their stance and strengthen Europe’s voice on the Ukraine issue.

Key Consensus Reached During the Meeting

1. Firm Support for Ukraine: Reaffirmed support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and condemned Russian missile (including the "Pioneer") and drone attacks.

2. Principles for Peace Talks:

- Support direct dialogue between Ukraine and Russia, with joint participation from the US and Europe.

- Demand an immediate, comprehensive ceasefire, using current contact lines as the starting point for negotiations.

- Europe must be involved in any final agreement; reject any arrangement that excludes Europe.

3. Military and Security Measures:

- Accelerate production of air defense interceptors and long-range strike weapons.

- Strengthen defense of Ukrainian energy infrastructure and implement security guarantees for Ukraine.

4. Pressure on Russia: Advance plans to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine’s reconstruction; coordinate further sanctions against Russia and aid plans during upcoming G7 and NATO summits.

Divergences also emerged during the talks. Within Europe, France and Germany lean toward "early peace talks," while the UK emphasizes "military pressure first." While Europe maintains a firm stance of "no territorial concessions, no compromise," the Trump administration has shown ambiguity on Ukraine’s territorial issues. National security advisors from all sides will continue consultations, aiming to present concrete proposals for aid and peace talks at the upcoming G7 (Evian) and NATO (Ankara) summits.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1867389168398400/

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