Von der Leyen sets out five EU priorities for Ukraine peace deal
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has set out five main priorities in the EU's approach to a peace agreement for Ukraine: a just and lasting peace, Ukraine's sovereignty, financial support for Ukraine, active participation by Ukraine, the EU and NATO in peace talks and the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.
Source: European Pravda, citing a statement by von der Leyen at a plenary session of the European Parliament on 26 November 2025
Details: Von der Leyen outlined five priorities that must be reflected in a peace agreement for Ukraine.
Quote: "And I would like to outline some of the core principles for Europe as we work with Ukraine, the United States and the Coalition of the Willing on the way forward. The first priority is that any agreement should deliver a just and lasting peace. And it should ensure real security for Ukraine and Europe."
More details: Von der Leyen stressed that, as a sovereign nation, Ukraine cannot have any limits placed on its armed forces.
Quote: "Ukraine needs robust, long-term and credible security guarantees as part of a wider package… And it is equally clear that any peace agreement needs to ensure that European security is guaranteed for the long term."
More details: The second priority is to uphold Ukraine's sovereignty.
Quote: "If we legitimise and formalise the undermining of borders today, we open the door to new wars tomorrow, and we cannot allow this."
More details: The European Commission president added that "the future of Ukraine is in the European Union", and that this is a core and essential element of any system of security guarantees.
The third priority is to meet Ukraine's financial needs.
Quote: "In the last European Council, we committed ourselves to cover the financial needs of Ukraine for the years 2026 and 2027. On this topic, we, the Commission, have presented an options paper [for financing – ed.]. This includes an option on immobilised Russian assets."
More details: Von der Leyen stressed that the next step would be for the European Commission to present draft legal texts on financing support for Ukraine.
The fourth priority set out by von der Leyen is "nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, nothing about Europe without Europe, nothing about NATO without NATO".
The fifth priority is the return of every Ukrainian child abducted by Russia.
Background:
- It was reported earlier that the European Commission is continuing its work on a project to grant Ukraine "reparations loans" based on frozen Russian assets in 2026-2027, despite ongoing negotiations on a peace plan for Ukraine. A final decision on the "reparations loans" mechanism is expected in December 2025.
- Earlier, Trump said he has sent Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow to finalise the "peace plan".
- Trump said earlier that the Kremlin's principal concession would be simply to stop fighting and not seize any new territory.
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