The Independent View: EU as Ukraine Peacekeepers

The UK is Hosting a Closed Meeting of Senior Military Leaders from more than 20 Countries, as they Draw-Up Plans for a proposed Peacekeeping Force for Ukraine. Zelensky slams Hungarian PM for being "Anti-European".

Zelensky to Address EU Summit in Brussels, and a Media Briefing in Norway. Zelensky says "All Nuclear Power Plants in Ukraine belong to Kyiv". But currently, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, is under Russian Occupation. Members of the so-called Coalition of the Willing were “Working at Pace” to develop Plans for a Peacekeeping Force if there is a Deal to End the Ukraine War. In the address, Zelensky urged EU Allies to Approve a Package of Minimum 5 billion Euros for Artillery Purchases.

As the UK hosts European Military Leaders for Discussions on Peacekeeping in Ukraine, the Prince of Wales is busy Representing Britain Overseas. William has arrived in Estonia, where He met with President Alar Karis at the Start of as Two-Day Visit to the Baltic State to bolster the UK’s Ties. Britain and Estonia have enjoyed a long-term Alliance, with the latter Hosting a Permanent Overseas Deployment of around 900 British Troops. William is making the Visit, on behalf of the UK Government and the Foreign Office, to show Support for the British Troops serving as a Deterrence against the Russia, with which Estonia shares a Border. Sir Keir Starmer has said Britain and its Allies must react Immediately should a Peace Deal be struck between Russia and Ukraine.

Speaking during a Visit to a Nuclear Submarine Facility Sir Keir told Reporters: "(Our) plans are focusing on keeping the sky safe, the sea safe, and the border safe, and secure in Ukraine, and working with the Ukrainians. "We're working at pace because we don't know if there'll be a deal. I certainly hope there will be, but if there's a deal, it's really important that we're able to react straight away.” The Prime Minister’s Visit, came on the day that Military Chiefs from Dozens of Countries will meet in Britain to discuss Planning for the so-called Anglo-French-led "Coalition of the Willing" Peacekeeping Force in Ukraine.

All EU Leaders currently at a Brussels Summit, have Backed a Statement reaffirming Support for Ukraine’s Territorial Sovereignty, except for Hungary. Run by Hard-Right Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Hungary has always taken a Softer Stance against Russian Aggression, and has been Critical of the European Bloc’s Level of Support for Kyiv. Orban has also positioned Himself as an Ally of Trump (R), praising His Efforts to bring the War in Ukraine to a Quick End.

EU Leaders will receive an Address from Volodymyr Zelensky today, where He will Debrief them on His Call with Trump on Wednesday. The EU's Foreign Policy Chief, Kaja Kallas, has urged Leaders to Pledge €5 billion (£4.1bn) for Artillery Shells for Ukraine, to Strengthen its Hand in Peace Talks, amid Divergences over how to Bolster Kyiv and the EU's own Military Capabilities. Arriving at an EU Summit in Brussels, Ms Kallas called on Leaders to match Words of Support for Kyiv with Deeds. Ms Kallas has scaled back a Proposal to pledge up to 40 billion Euros in Military Aid to Ukraine this year, with each Country contributing according to its Economic Size, after Resistance from some Countries, particularly in Southern Europe.

She told Reporters She was now focusing on what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is addressing the Summit by Video link, says He needs most Urgently, Two million Artillery Shells at a Cost of €5bn. "We should at least start to have a really concrete step, not only words, but also in deeds that we are helping Ukraine right now. Because the stronger they are on the battlefield, the stronger they are behind the negotiation table," Ms Kallas said.

Russian President Putin and His Leadership also Place “significantly less value on the lives of ethnic minority citizens from impoverished regions”. Recruitment tends to be Disproportionately focussed on People from these Minorities, with “Slavic Russians” from “urban centres such as Moscow and St. Petersburg” less likely to be called up.

For the next Stop in Volodymyr Zelensky’s endless European Diplomacy, the Ukrainian President has just touched down in Norway. He flew in from Finland, where He met with President Alexander Stubb and other Senior Political Figures to Discuss a Common approach to sharing a Border with Russia, and continued Support for Ukraine. The Norwegian Government earlier this month said it would more than Double its Financial Support to Kyiv this year, to 85 billion crowns (£6.17 billion) from a Plan agreed in November, 2024, of 35 billion crowns.

"Norway stands with Ukraine," Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said on Thursday. "I look forward to good discussions on how Norway can best support Ukraine in both the short- and long-term." Jens Stoltenberg, until October NATO's Chief and now Norway's Finance Minister, will have a Meeting with Mr Zelensky's Delegation.

Sir Keir is expected to address the Meeting of around 30 Military Officials, Two days after Vladimir Putin Demanded that All Western Military Aid to Ukraine be Ended as a Condition to End the Fighting. Starmer and His French Counterpart Emmanuel Macron have been Scrambling to build a Coalition of Countries willing to put Troops onn the Ground, and be directly involved in Peacekeeping efforts in Ukraine in any Postwar Settlement. The Ukrainian President also had spent the day in Helsinki with His Finnish Counterpart, Alexander Stubb'

But as He Debriefed Journalists on Zoom, a call came in from One of His closest Allies, French President Emmanuel Macron. "Sorry, Emmanuel! I'm just having a conversation with a journalist. Can I be back in 15-20 minutes?" the Ukrainian president replied in English, according to Ukrainska Pravda. "Yes, I just spoke to President Macron. We often talk a lot. Once a day, I would say, on average," He confirmed, stressing that Mr Macron “helps a lot”.

In His Invitation to fellow World Leaders, European Council President António Costa wrote: “Our continued support to Ukraine, the need to invest in our defence, and our competitiveness are closely interlinked. A more competitive Union will be a stronger Union, better able to protect its citizens, its interests, and its values on the global stage.”