Trump And Key European Leader Say They’ll Pursue Fair And Sustainable Peace Efforts For Ukraine

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President-elect Donald Trump pledged to expedite efforts to achieving a “fair, just, and sustainable peace” in Ukraine.

While attending the European Council summit in Brussels, Scholz engaged with Trump via phone, according to German government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit, as reported by Politico. The summit focused on evaluating the European Union’s stance in global politics and adapting to a potentially reduced U.S. involvement in Ukraine under Trump’s administration.

“ agreed that the Russian war against Ukraine had gone on for far too long and that it was important to get on the path to a fair, just and sustainable peace as soon as possible,” Hebestreit said.

Amid these discussions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, also present in Brussels, actively sought to bolster European defense commitments, Politico reported. In a response to inquiries about Trump’s upcoming presidency, Zelenskyy expressed optimism, urging Trump to aid in concluding the conflict.

In light of these developments, Zelenskyy said European assurances alone were inadequate and said he needs”real guarantees” from NATO, including pivotal support from the U.S.

“European guarantees won’t be sufficient for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said.

Trump previously commented on the Ukraine war, describing it as one of the most severe conflicts since World War II. He said he’s committed to ending the “horrible” war between Ukraine and Russia, highlighting the extensive destruction and high casualty rates that have left cities in ruins and unlivable.