Europe shifts attention back to the Russia-Ukraine conflict as tensions over the Greenland dispute subside, refocusing diplomatic efforts.
Following an intense week of concerns about Greenland’s outlook, Europe is again turning its political attention to the war that may reshape its security framework for decades: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. European officials believe that the preliminary agreement which persuaded Donald Trump to drop his tariff threat over Greenland has cleared the way for renewed transatlantic cooperation aimed at halting Moscow’s full-scale aggression. The tensions surrounding the mineral-rich Danish island had recently risked undermining joint diplomatic work on Ukraine.
As the Russian invasion nears its fourth year, leaders across Europe are lending full support to Washington’s initiative to broker a peace accord between Kyiv and Moscow. After two days of trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, attended by American, Ukrainian, and Russian representatives, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the discussions as “constructive.” He added, “If there is willingness to move forward – and Ukraine is ready – follow-up meetings will occur,” marking another glimmer of hope. Meanwhile, Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov noted that the talks reaffirmed that a lasting resolution would be impossible without tackling the territorial question.
As momentum increases, many European capitals have begun to seriously explore reopening direct contact with President Vladimir Putin — channels that have remained largely frozen since 2022. Earlier this month, Emmanuel Macron of France and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni both publicly supported such a policy shift. The European Commission, once adamant about full diplomatic isolation, later stated that conversations could resume “at some point.” Within this context, leaders are weighing the proposal of appointing a special envoy to engage with the Kremlin, representing a coordinated European stance, though no specific candidate has emerged.
Simultaneously, Europe is working closely with the United States on two essential components accompanying what has become a 20-point peace framework. The first relates to a series of security assurances to be activated immediately after hostilities cease. These include a US-led high-tech system to verify the ceasefire, a multinational unit under French and British command to secure key Ukrainian positions, and a legally binding pledge to defend Ukraine in case of renewed Russian aggression. While these guarantees are extensively elaborated, they hinge entirely on Moscow’s acceptance of peace terms — an outcome that remains uncertain. For many in Europe, the continuing missile strikes that plunge Ukrainians into darkness amid winter cold expose a lack of genuine intent. One senior EU official stated, “There is growing frustration at progressing so far toward peace while Russia remains largely disengaged.”
At the same time, US and EU policymakers are nearing consensus on a joint plan to bolster Ukraine’s post-war economic recovery, invite foreign investment, and unlock billions in financial resources. This prosperity initiative was meant to be finalized last week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, during President Zelenskyy’s visit. However, the fallout from Trump’s tariff threats led to postponement and disrupted the signing schedule. Despite this, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the draft plan to EU heads at their emergency summit on Thursday night, emphasizing, “We are close to completion. We are preparing Ukraine’s future as a modern, sovereign, and free state.” Brussels anticipates that, with the de-escalation over Greenland, the signing ceremony can proceed in the coming weeks.
Both the security guarantees and the prosperity plan are ultimately linked to Ukraine’s aim of joining the European Union. Kyiv hopes to include a concrete accession date in the eventual peace treaty to balance potential concessions on territory. While the current draft refers to January 2027 as the target, EU officials acknowledge that such a timeline is unrealistic, given Ukraine has yet to open any negotiation chapters due to Hungary’s continued veto. Any finalized peace accord would inevitably trigger a reform of the EU’s enlargement process, which is notoriously lengthy. That reform effort, however, could draw skepticism from certain member states and discontent from long-waiting candidates. Cyprus, currently holding the rotating presidency of the Council, has stated it will move Ukraine’s accession forward “when conditions allow,” according to Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna. She added, “Enlargement is a merit-based process, reflecting candidates’ progress. Despite ongoing Russian aggression, Ukraine has implemented impressive reforms under exceptionally difficult circumstances.”
In addition, Brussels is preparing another package of EU sanctions targeting Russia, expected to be endorsed around the war’s anniversary — as has been customary on 24 February each year since 2022.
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