On 15 December 2025, Europe’s political centre of gravity shifted to Berlin. There, a remarkable line-up of European leaders – including Chancellor Merz, Presidents Stubb, Macron, Costa, President von der Leyen, and Prime Ministers Kristersson, Frederiksen, Meloni, Schoof, Støre, Tusk and Starmer – issued a joint statement on Ukraine that could define the next phase of the war and the continent’s security architecture for decades to come.
At the heart of the declaration is a clear message: Ukraine’s security, sovereignty and prosperity are not only a moral imperative, but a core interest of Euro-Atlantic security. And for the first time, the United States and Europe are publicly aligning around a single framework for a just and lasting peace, centred on President Trump’s proposed plan and President Zelenskyy’s leadership.
A New Phase in the War – and in Diplomacy
The statement “welcomed significant progress” in President Trump’s efforts to secure peace in Ukraine and underlined the unusually close coordination between the US, Ukraine and European partners in recent weeks. It framed the moment as an opportunity:
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to end the active phase of the war,
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without sacrificing Ukrainian sovereignty,
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and while strengthening, not weakening, European security.
The leaders stressed that any agreement must do more than simply “freeze” the conflict. It must create conditions that prevent future aggression, provide credible deterrence and embed Ukraine firmly within the Euro-Atlantic family.
There is also a notable political signal: European capitals are not passive observers of a Washington–Moscow negotiation. They are co-authors of the new security and economic framework that will surround whatever peace is agreed.
Security Guarantees on an Unprecedented Scale
At the core of the statement lies a robust set of security commitments. These go far beyond previous declarations of support:
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An 800,000-strong Ukrainian peacetime army
The leaders committed to support Ukraine in building and maintaining armed forces of up to 800,000 personnel in peacetime. This is an extraordinary number: it recognises that Ukraine, as a front-line state bordering Russia, will remain a key pillar of European defence, even once the guns fall silent.The aim is clear: Ukraine must never again be left vulnerable to a sudden assault.
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A European-led “Multinational Force Ukraine”
The statement announces plans for a European-led multinational force, composed of contributions from willing states under a “Coalition of the Willing” framework and supported by the US.
Its tasks would include:-
assisting in the regeneration and training of Ukrainian forces,
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strengthening Ukraine’s air defence,
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contributing to safer seas in the region,
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and, crucially, operating inside Ukraine.
While not described as a combat deployment, this force would embed European militaries and expertise into Ukraine’s defence ecosystem in a way that makes any future attack far more complex and risky for Russia.
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A US-led ceasefire monitoring and verification mission
In parallel, the United States would lead an international ceasefire monitoring mechanism, with:-
independent verification,
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early warning of any renewed aggression,
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and a structured deconfliction mechanism to manage escalatory risks.
This is designed to avoid the failures of previous “frozen conflict” frameworks, where violations were frequent and consequences unclear.
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Legally binding commitments in case of new aggression
Perhaps the most consequential element is the pledge to pursue a legally binding commitment, subject to national procedures, to act if Ukraine is attacked again.The measures could include:
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armed assistance,
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intelligence and logistical support,
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economic and diplomatic pressure.
It stops short of full NATO Article 5 membership, but moves significantly closer to turning political promises into enforceable obligations.
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The Economic Front: Recovery, Reconstruction and Justice
Security is only one pillar. The Berlin statement emphasises that Ukraine’s prosperity is equally vital for a durable peace.
European and US leaders commit to:
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Mobilise major resources for Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction, ensuring long-term investment rather than short-term aid.
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Support mutually beneficial trade agreements that tie Ukraine more closely to European and transatlantic markets.
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Acknowledge explicitly the need for Russia to compensate Ukraine for the damage inflicted.
In this context, the leaders highlight that Russian sovereign assets in the EU have been immobilised. While the statement does not spell out exact mechanisms, it signals a clear political intent: those assets are part of the financial toolbox for reconstruction and accountability.
The message is that Ukraine’s economic future should be European, modern and resilient, not dependent on the structures that left it vulnerable before 2014 and 2022.
Ukraine’s European Future
The joint statement includes an unambiguous line:
“Strongly support Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.”
This is more than symbolic. EU accession is a long and demanding process, but political green lights at this level matter. They:
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reinforce the irreversibility of Ukraine’s westward trajectory;
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encourage reforms in governance, rule of law and anti-corruption;
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and build confidence among Ukrainians that their sacrifices lead to a concrete European future.
The leaders also underline a vital principle: international borders must not be changed by force. Decisions about territory, they affirm, belong to the people of Ukraine, once credible security guarantees are in place. In other words, any territorial questions that arise in negotiations cannot be imposed from outside and must ultimately be legitimised by Ukrainians themselves – potentially through consultation or referendum.
Supporting Zelenskyy’s Choices – and Ukraine’s Agency
Throughout the text, there is a careful balance. On the one hand, European and US leaders are shaping the framework and offering powerful guarantees. On the other, they stress that President Zelenskyy remains the primary decision-maker for Ukraine.
They “express their support for President Zelenskyy and agreed to support whatever decisions he ultimately makes on specific Ukrainian issues.” This framing:
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respects Ukraine’s agency as a sovereign nation;
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avoids the perception of any “deal over Ukraine’s head”;
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reassures Ukrainian society that its leadership will not be forced into concessions without consent.
At the same time, the statement acknowledges that some key issues will only be resolved in the final stages of negotiations, once the security and economic architecture is fully defined.
NATO, the EU and the Euro-Atlantic Order
Another important theme in the document is the need to protect the long-term security and unity of the Euro-Atlantic space. The leaders emphasise that any agreement:
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must be compatible with NATO’s role as the main provider of deterrence and defence in Europe;
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and that any elements involving the EU or NATO will be debated within those organisations, respecting their internal decision-making processes.
This is a reminder that the peace framework is not just about Ukraine and Russia. It will become part of the broader Euro-Atlantic order: how NATO positions itself, how the EU shapes its neighbourhood, and how Europe shares responsibilities with the United States.
Pressure on Russia – and an Open Door
The statement ends with a clear call to Moscow. It is now “incumbent upon Russia” to:
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show willingness to work towards a lasting peace by agreeing to the proposed plan;
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prove its commitment to end the war by accepting a ceasefire;
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and engage in genuine negotiations.
At the same time, the leaders pledge to increase pressure on Russia until it negotiates in earnest. Sanctions, diplomatic isolation and economic measures are therefore likely to continue, or even intensify, as part of the strategy.
Notably, the declaration “remains open for other countries to join”. This makes it not only an EU-US-Ukraine framework, but a potential anchor for a wider international coalition – including G7 members, regional partners and states from the Global South that have called for a just peace based on international law.
“Nothing Is Agreed Until Everything Is Agreed”
One phrase in the statement captures both the ambition and the caution of the current moment:
“As in any deal, nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.”
This reminds all parties – and the world – that:
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there is still no final peace agreement;
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negotiations will be complex and politically sensitive;
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all the elements must fit together to create a stable equilibrium that ends the fighting and prevents a repeat of aggression.
Yet, taken as a whole, the Berlin joint statement represents the most comprehensive and coordinated outline to date of what a just and lasting peace for Ukraine could look like – one that protects sovereignty, embeds Ukraine in Europe, and reshapes the security architecture of an entire continent.
For Ukraine, it is a recognition that its struggle has changed Europe.
For Europe, it is a recognition that its future will be written, in part, in Kyiv.