Egypt Daily News – European Union leaders are holding an extraordinary emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday, joined by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to discuss developments in Ukraine and European defense.
The European leaders will deliberate on the peace negotiations initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to end the war in Ukraine. The meeting will also focus on European defense and increased military spending to rebuild Europe’s deterrence capabilities.
Meanwhile, French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu stated that France is providing military intelligence to Ukraine after Washington announced on Wednesday that it was freezing intelligence-sharing with Kyiv—a decision that could undermine Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against the Russian invasion.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe announced on Wednesday that the U.S. had “halted” intelligence-sharing with Ukraine following a breakdown in relations between Kyiv and the White House.
Lecornu told France Inter radio: “Our intelligence is sovereign (…) with capabilities unique to us. We are sharing it with the Ukrainians for their benefit.”
A heated exchange took place between Trump and Zelenskyy at the White House last week, after which Ukraine’s biggest ally suspended its vital military aid.
Later on Thursday, the U.S. administration announced progress in repairing relations with Ukraine and moving toward a potential end to the war between Kyiv and Moscow.
U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz told Fox News: “I believe we are moving in a positive direction.” Waltz had a phone conversation with the head of the Ukrainian president’s office, Andriy Yermak.
He explained that discussions are currently underway with the Ukrainians regarding “the location, date, and negotiation team” for a new meeting. Additionally, talks are ongoing about “confidence-building measures” that could later be presented to the Russian side to “test” their response.
Waltz added, “A positive step forward was achieved yesterday and today, and we will negotiate for this peace.”
Yermak said that steps toward achieving a “just and lasting peace” were discussed, along with an exchange of views on security issues and the coordination of bilateral relations.
In his nightly address, Zelenskyy stated, “Today, our teams—Ukraine and the United States—began preparations for holding a meeting.”
He added that his chief of staff, Yermak, had spoken with the U.S. National Security Advisor and indicated that the first results of these discussions might emerge as early as next week, although the identities of potential participants in the meeting remain unclear.
On Tuesday, Zelenskyy expressed his willingness to work under “Trump’s strong leadership” to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine. This came just days after their tense meeting in the Oval Office, where Zelenskyy described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “murderer and terrorist.”
The meeting saw criticism directed at Zelenskyy, as he was accused of being ungrateful and seeking to prolong the war, which led Trump to freeze U.S. military aid to Ukraine as a means of pressuring him into negotiations.
