Europe must be involved in Ukraine peace talks, say Dutch

Dutch defence minister Ruben Brekelmans said on Thursday that Europe must have a seat at the negotiating table alongside Russia and the US when discussing a peace deal for Ukraine.

“Not being at the table is not an option,” he stated. “We are extremely important in implementing security guarantees for Ukraine.” Brekelmans is in Brussels for a Nato defence ministers’ meeting.

EU countries and Britain have also emphasised the importance of including Europe in talks to end the war in Ukraine.

In a joint declaration issued just before midnight, the countries reaffirmed their commitment, stating: “We are ready to enhance our support for Ukraine. We commit to its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s war of aggression.”

We need peace through strength.

Durable peace is only possible with robust security guarantees.

We need to shape these robust guarantees together, and in the meantime keep fully supporting Ukraine.

Throughout this process, strong unity and a certain level of ambiguity are key. pic.twitter.com/m0j6Ts9Lbm

— Ruben Brekelmans (@DefensieMin) February 13, 2025

The statement followed the US decision to move forward with negotiations, with president Donald Trump announcing that he had a “lengthy and highly productive” phone call with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, during which the two leaders agreed to begin peace talks.

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Later, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he had also spoken with Trump about achieving a “lasting, reliable peace.”

Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp said on Thursday the Netherlands fully supports the joint declaration issued by European leaders.

“We remain committed to peace through strength,” he said on social media.

The Netherlands has been at the forefront of international efforts to help Ukraine since the Russian invasion in 2022, but there had been concerns the right-wing government would backpedal.

The far-right PVV had called for an end to military and financial support during the election campaign but the coalition agreement stated that “The Netherlands will continue to support Ukraine against Russian aggression politically, militarily, financially and morally”.

Parliament

The ministers’ call for action is also widely echoed in the Dutch parliament. “Russia must not be rewarded for its aggression, and Ukraine must be placed in the strongest possible negotiating position,” said VVD MP Eric van der Burg. “These statements from the US show that Europe must claim its seat at the table during peace negotiations!”

PvdA/GL leader Frans Timmermans said Europe risks falling prey to Putin. “If the European ministers at the Nato table today do not unanimously and unequivocally state negotiations can only take place with us at the table,then Europe is not at the table—it is on Putin’s menu,” he said.

D66 MP Jan Paternotte said Europe must have learned its lesson. “I have no idea what Putin put in Trump’s tea,” he said. “But let all of Europe take note of this—so that we swiftly take responsibility for our own defense and don’t hit ‘snooze’ again.”

Defence spending

Brekelmans has long called for a rapid strengthening of Europe’s military capabilities, which raises the question of how much Nato’s spending target should be increased. This year, the Netherlands is spending around €22 billion on defense, bringing it close to the minimum target of 2% of GDP. Trump is demanding 5%, while Nato chief Mark Rutte is aiming for 3%.

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Publish date : 2025-02-13 02:41:00

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