Ukraine and NATO, here is the plan with the European soldiers: the decisive summit

Ukraine and its allies are thinking about the post-war period. The conflict with Vladimir Putin’s Russia has been going on for over 1000 days: the picture will change in January, with the inauguration of Donald Trump as the new president of the United States. The next occupant of the White House has said and reiterated that he intends to foster an agreement between Kiev and Moscow. Between the lines, but not too much, he made it clear that American military support for Ukraine is destined to reduce.

The European soul of NATO, therefore, must prepare for a new scenario. European leaders are scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday evening in Brussels to discuss peace plans and the possible deployment of peacekeeping forces to Ukraine.

This is the picture outlined by Politico, which cites information provided by five sources and echoes the indiscretion of the Polish Press Agency. The sending of European soldiers has been a topic on the table for days. The meeting serves to prepare a common strategy in view of the arrival of Trump who, as it transpires, has already given his approval on one condition: no American soldiers will set foot in Ukraine.

Who attends the meeting

In addition to Rutte and Zelensky, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish President Andrzej Duda, European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are expected to attend the meeting on Wednesday. Still uncertain, according to Politico, are the presences of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The construction of a negotiating track coexists with the war on the field. Russia continues to push in Donetsk, Ukraine resists: gaining ground or maintaining positions becomes fundamental in view of the negotiations.

What happens on the field

Zelensky seeks solutions to prevent the front from collapsing and replaces the commander responsible for the operational troops around the cities of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove, in Donetsk, Oleksander Lutsenko. The change comes after the forces under his command suffered a series of defeats on the ground. Lutsenko’s place will be taken by Oleksander Tarnavski, whose appointment has yet to be made official.

The city of Kurakhove has been partially occupied by Russian forces and is on the verge of falling, while harsh criticism has been leveled at the military leadership for what has been described as an inadequate defense in Pokrovsk, which risks the encirclement of the city and a future advance of Russian troops in the direction of the Dnipropetrovsk region.