Ukraine
European leaders in Kyiv to mark three years of war, but top US officials stay away
February 24, 2025 at 14:13
Zelenskiy, who has told Europe to create its own army while urging Washington to be pragmatic, welcomed a slew of European and other leaders to a summit in Kyiv to commemorate the start in 2022 of the biggest conflict in Europe since World War Two.
"This year should be the year of the beginning of a real, lasting peace. Putin will not gift us this peace, nor will he give it to us in exchange for anything. We have to win peace with strength, wisdom and unity - with our cooperation," he said.
The visitors included European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa and the leaders of Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Norway, Spain and Sweden.
Leaders of Albania, Britain, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, Moldova, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland and Turkey spoke by video link. There was no sign of U.S. representation.
Ukraine could join the European Union before 2030 if it continues the speed and quality of its reforms, von der Leyen said.
The European leaders rallied around Zelenskiy in speeches, calling for countries on the continent to step up support for Kyiv, while some spoke of the urgent need to increase defence spending.
Trump said he spoke to Group of Seven (G7) leaders on Monday alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, noting that everyone on the call expressed the goal of seeing Russia's war in Ukraine end.
In a post on Truth Social after the call, Trump said he was also in "serious discussions" with Russian President Vladimir Putin about ending the war and "major Economic Development transactions which will take place between the United States and Russia."
'NO STRENGTH LEFT'
Washington has made clear it will not send troops as a security guarantee coveted by Kyiv if a peace deal emerges, placing the burden on European powers that are likely to struggle without U.S. backing.
Thousands of Ukrainian citizens have died and more than six million live as refugees abroad since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion by land, sea and air.
Military losses have been catastrophic, although they remain closely guarded secrets. Public Western estimates based on intelligence reports vary widely, but most say hundreds of thousands have been killed or wounded on each side.
Russia launched 185 drones against Ukraine overnight but caused no significant damage, the Ukrainian air force said. Kyiv said it had hit Russia's Ryazan refinery, continuing its campaign to degrade its enemy's oil infrastructure.
Additional reporting by Dan Peleschuk, Olena Harmash, Vitalii Hnidyi, Yurii Kovalenko; writing by Daphne Psaledakis; Editing by Mike Collett-White, Gareth Jones, Ros Russell and Andrew Heavens
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