Trump’s push for peace in Ukraine is gaining increasing approval in Europe – The Wall Street Journal.”

President-elect Donald Trump’s push for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine is gaining increasing support among Ukraine’s European allies.

This information reported according to The Wall Street Journal.

The publication notes that with uncertainty surrounding U.S. support for Kyiv, many European officials now view diplomacy as the best option for Ukraine.

The shift in alignment between Europe and the Trump administration regarding negotiations marks a stark departure from sentiments just six months ago, when European officials were wary of Trump’s pledge to end the conflict through swift talks, fearing that he might strike a deal with the Kremlin at Ukraine’s expense.

Nevertheless, deep concerns remain in Europe about the extent to which the Trump administration might limit Ukraine’s ability to shape its own diplomatic path. European leaders are also uneasy about what demands from Russia Trump may be willing to accept as part of any ceasefire or peace agreement.

Following a phone call between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Vladimir Putin on Friday, President Zelensky warned that such dialogue risks opening a “Pandora’s box,” potentially leading to further discussions being reduced to “just an abundance of words.”

The Trump transition team, however, believes that Ukraine may be more inclined toward peace negotiations with Russia than it admits publicly. Trump and his senior advisors argue that, given battlefield setbacks, Ukraine may soon have no other option but to engage in talks.

The key question remains how Trump will proceed and whether Putin will negotiate in good faith. Trump’s advisors have floated a range of plans, all differing significantly from the Biden administration’s “as long as it takes” approach.

If any of these proposals are adopted as part of a final agreement between Ukraine and Russia, Ukraine might be required to forgo NATO membership for 20 years while receiving increased weapons support to deter further Russian aggression.

Official messaging from most European capitals remains consistent: Europe will back Ukraine for as long as necessary. However, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, speaking at a summit in Budapest, expressed caution about Europe’s capacity to provide the required military, financial, and humanitarian aid if Trump reduces U.S. funding.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has long advocated for Europe to adopt Trump’s strategy aimed at swiftly ending the conflict. His argument, that Europe lacks a realistic strategy to achieve its stated goal of a victorious Ukraine regaining its territory, is resonating even among countries with stronger support for Kyiv.

Despite this, there is uncertainty in Europe regarding Trump’s willingness to engage in talks if Putin refuses to negotiate seriously and instead seeks to tighten Moscow’s control over Ukraine—a scenario many senior U.S. and European officials believe is possible.

If Ukraine is not admitted into NATO, European officials insist that Ukraine must receive adequate military support to defend itself from future Russian attacks and want U.S. backing in these efforts. They also demand that both Ukraine and Europe have seats at the table during negotiations to resolve the conflict and shape Europe’s future security.

Some senior European diplomats have stated they must be prepared for the possibility that Trump could demand European forces provide security guarantees for Ukraine and oversee a ceasefire along a potentially hundreds-of-kilometers-long contact line.

Such a move could prove politically challenging for European governments, including nuclear powers like the UK and France. If the U.S. opts out of involvement and fails to offer backing, and if Russia resumes hostilities in the future, the risk would be even greater.