Berlin, Dec. 16 (SANA) Leaders of major European countries and the European Union proposed the deployment of a “multinational force” in Ukraine on Tuesday, under European leadership. The force would provide sustained support to the Ukrainian army and would consist of 800,000 personnel, according to a joint statement issued in Berlin.
The statement, signed by the leaders of Germany, France, Britain, Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Italy, Poland, Sweden, and the European Union, was carried by Agence France-Presse (AFP). It stated that the force would be made up of contributions from volunteer countries and supported by the United States.
The statement also highlighted an agreement between European leaders and the United States to collaborate on providing security guarantees for Ukraine, as well as implementing economic recovery measures within a framework designed to end the war. It stressed the need for Russia to demonstrate its willingness to achieve lasting peace by accepting a peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump and ceasing hostilities.
European leaders pledged to invest in Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction, securing significant resources to ensure the country’s prosperity, with the expectation that Russia would compensate for the costs. The statement further emphasized that international borders must not be altered by force.
The leaders expressed their strong support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukraine’s future accession to the European Union.
Nearly four years after the conflict’s outbreak, Berlin is hosting renewed talks aimed at bringing an end to the Russian-Ukrainian war and establishing a political framework for a ceasefire between the two sides.
