EU leaders to send "clear signal" to Trump on Ukraine, economic challenges

European Union leaders are preparing to send a "clear signal" to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump during a summit on December 19 regarding their continued support for Ukraine and the security and economic challenges posed by his return to the White House.

The summit will kick off with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joining the EU leaders, who are expected to reaffirm their "unwavering commitment" to supporting Ukraine "for as long as it takes," according to draft conclusions, Caliber.Az reports via Western media.

This gesture comes amid ongoing concerns over Trump's repeated calls for a swift end to the nearly three-year-old war.

On Decemeber 16, Trump stated that Zelenskyy should be ready to reach a peace deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, though he did not specify whether this would involve Kyiv ceding territory to Moscow as part of the settlement.

Currently, Russian forces occupy nearly a fifth of Ukrainian territory, and advances continue in the eastern regions of the country. "Russia must not prevail," the EU draft conclusions assert, adding that no initiative regarding Ukraine should proceed without Kyiv's involvement. One EU diplomat described the draft text as sending "a clear signal to the U.S."

The summit will also address broader EU-U.S. relations during a lunch discussion, with concerns of a possible transatlantic trade war at the forefront. Trump has previously warned that the EU will "pay a big price" with tariffs for not purchasing enough U.S. exports. He has already pledged hefty tariffs on the U.S.'s largest trading partners—Canada, Mexico, and China—and the EU is aware that it is unlikely to escape unscathed.

Some EU diplomats emphasized the importance of maintaining unity and avoiding any direct negotiations between Washington and individual EU members—drawing parallels with the bloc's successful strategy during Brexit negotiations.

"The U.S. might try individual negotiations but so far I have not seen countries falling for that," said one EU diplomat.

The EU aims to highlight that the United States is its second-largest trading partner and a close ally with shared values. However, mindful of Trump's focus on the U.S. goods trade deficit, EU officials have considered the possibility of offering to purchase more U.S. LNG or arms to strengthen ties.

The summit will also include a debate on China, where EU leaders will discuss the possibility of the bloc being forced to take sides in a U.S.-China trade conflict.

Additionally, Britain’s intention to reset its relationship with the European Union will be discussed, with the EU viewing the U.K. as a crucial security ally.

By Khagan Isayev