Bloomberg: Europe urges Zelensky not to withdraw troops from Donbass

European leaders are trying to persuade Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy not to agree to a possible withdrawal of troops from Donbas unless the USA provides reliable security guarantees. This was reported by Bloomberg.

According to the publication, Europe's main goal is to avoid a situation when under US pressure Ukraine will be forced to agree to a deal without serious US commitments. European diplomats warn that such a scenario could create a strategic vacuum and jeopardise the security of the entire region. In the coming days, representatives of several European countries plan to travel to Washington to discuss these risks with the US administration.

According to the publication, Europe has so far publicly supported the US initiatives, hoping that Moscow itself will disrupt possible negotiations. However, according to Bloomberg's assessment, this approach is exhausting itself, and there is no backup plan yet.

European diplomats recognise that recent contacts with US and Ukrainian representatives have not been easy. There is a risk that the US may withdraw from the negotiation process, leaving Europe alone with the task of supporting Ukraine. In this case, the EU countries will have to decide whether they are capable of providing Kiev with the necessary military and financial assistance, while a long-term financing mechanism has not been formed yet.

We would like to point out that on 8 December, the Ukrainian president will go to London to meet with European leaders: British Prime Minister Kiera Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The discussions centred on coordinating international support for Ukraine and strengthening allied unity.

Macron had emphasised the previous day that unity between Europe and the US was critical for peace, noting the lack of mistrust between the allies.