Zelensky and EU leaders in London: A new peace plan for Ukraine!

Zelensky and EU leaders in London: A new peace plan for Ukraine!

Today, December 8, 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected in London, where he will meet with leading Western representatives for important talks. Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are also taking part in the negotiations. The focus of the discussions is the current status of the US peace plan to end the Russian attack on Ukraine, which has already been negotiated in Florida. The USA and Ukraine are optimistic about the exchange: Zelensky described it as “focused and constructive”.

The US peace plan was initially criticized as a “Russian wish list”. Unclear points in this plan primarily concern territorial issues and security guarantees for Ukraine, while Russia appears to be sticking to its tough demands: These include ceding territory and waiving Ukraine's possible NATO membership. Kyiv vehemently rejects these points. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov never tires of emphasizing that evacuating the occupied territories is not up for debate.

The path to peace

The desire for peace in the Ukraine conflict comes from many sides, but the ideas about how to get there couldn't be more different. A 28-point US plan calls for tough concessions from Ukraine, including recognizing Luhansk and Donetsk as Russian and not joining NATO. In return, security guarantees and an end to Russian aggression should be promised. But these demands are met with great skepticism in Kiev, especially since past attempts to broker a ceasefire failed.

The USA and the EU support the position of Ukraine, which continues to strive for the recovery of the territories occupied by Russia and a security policy connection with the West. Despite the support from Washington and Brussels, the question remains how to deal with the Russian-occupied territories and what concessions Ukraine could actually make.

International reactions

Internationally there are a variety of voices on what is happening. While US President Donald Trump expressed doubts about Zelensky's approval of a new proposal, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni assured Ukraine of continued support. Annalena Baerbock, President of the UN General Assembly, also clearly signaled that no territorial cessions should be forced on Ukraine.

Elsewhere in the world, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) is expected in Beijing to urge China to put pressure on Russia for serious negotiations. China has so far taken a neutral stance, but has been criticized in the West for supporting Russia in the conflict instead of actively working towards peace.

The potential for a permanent solution still appears to be a long way off. However, with the upcoming special EU summit on March 6th, which is expected to address outstanding issues regarding support for Ukraine and European security, a new dynamic in the peace process could soon develop.

The next steps in London and the ongoing dialogue between Western partners and Ukraine appear to be crucial in determining whether peace can finally become a reality or whether the conflict will continue to determine the fate of the region. Let's see how things turn out.