The European Union has subtly altered its public stance on the Ukraine war.
In a recent European Council statement announcing new sanctions against Russia, the EU replaced the phrase “Ukraine must win this war” with “Russia must not prevail.” This change, reported by Politico, followed inquiries about consistency with current diplomatic messaging. An EU official reportedly attributed the original wording to an error.
A subsequent European Council statement, also released on Thursday, similarly used the phrase “Russia must not prevail” regarding the conflict. Council President Antonio Costa, who held a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that day, emphasized that “international law must prevail.”
According to Politico’s Eddy Wax, this shift reflects a broader change in Western messaging, influenced by President-elect Donald Trump’s stated intention to quickly resolve the conflict.
While some senior EU figures, including High Representative Josep Borrell, maintain that Ukraine will win, a growing awareness in Brussels suggests that continued support for Kyiv hinges on US backing, Politico reported. The publication characterized the EU’s strategy as an attempt to appease Trump, overlooking his more concerning statements.
“The EU’s strategy appears to be flattering Trump, wishfully projecting onto him, and turning a blind eye to some of his more alarming statements,” the outlet reported.
Ukraine, meanwhile, has not softened its rhetoric. On Thursday, both Zelenskyy and his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, publicly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin following his annual question-and-answer session.
Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s Deputy Chairman of the Security Council, asserted on Friday that Kyiv’s actions were designed to undermine Trump’s peace efforts. Medvedev claimed Zelenskyy is “showing the middle finger” to the incoming US president.