The best way to peace is to make Ukraine stronger, notes a long line of EU leaders.
Ukraine must come into an even stronger position before negotiations can start, says Ulf Kristersson on his way into Thursday's EU summit in Brussels.
One of many things that comes up when peace talks are discussed is whether European soldiers should be stationed in Ukraine in a peacekeeping force.
There is nothing concrete about this, says Kristersson.
This is a question that will come much later, after we have started peace talks on Ukraine's terms.
In that case, Kristersson does not rule out that Swedish soldiers may also be on site, but it will not be relevant with Swedish presence until there is a peace agreement.
No, I find it very hard to see, says Kristersson.
Difficult without the USA?
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyj is participating again in parts of the EU summit. On his way in, he calls for continued unity across the Atlantic, even when Donald Trump has taken office in the USA.
We need unity to get peace. Only together can the USA and EU stop Putin and save Ukraine, he says on his way into today's EU summit, side by side with EU Council President António Costa.
It will be very difficult to defend Ukraine without American help. We will have to discuss this with President Trump when he is in the White House, says Zelenskyj.
Nuclear Power Concerns
During the summit, he will, among other things, talk about the need for doubled production in Ukraine's defense industry and bomb shelters and food for Ukrainian schoolchildren. And about his concern for energy.
The security around our nuclear power plants is very dangerous for us and for all of Europe, if something goes wrong, says Zelenskyj.
Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who met Zelenskyj already last night, warns of continued Russian aggression.
I know very well that it is tough that we continue to talk about more and more weapons, even though we want peace. But I see no signs that Russia wants peace, says Frederiksen according to the news agency Ritzau.
Wiktor Nummelin/TT
Maria Davidsson/TT
Facts: EU Summit in Brussels
TTTT
The EU countries' heads of state and government gather in Brussels for this year's last summit on Thursday.
Initially, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyj participates, followed by a separate discussion among EU leaders about the situation in Ukraine.
At lunchtime, a more strategic discussion about the EU's place in the world is expected, followed by talks about, among other things, migration, civil defense, and the situation in Georgia and Moldova.
The meeting concludes with a working dinner that mainly deals with the situation in the Middle East, not least about the fall of the Assad regime in Syria.
At the final press conference, Council President António Costa, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of this autumn's presiding country Hungary, will participate.
