European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has described the situation surrounding the war in Ukraine as 'volatile' and 'dangerous' and accused Russia of having no 'real intent' of engaging in peace talks.
Her comments came shortly before Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was 'premature' to speak about striking a peace deal.
Von der Leyen stated that Ukraine would need strong security guarantees capable of deterring any further attacks, arguing that Russia still held a post-World War Two mindset and viewed the European continent as a 'sphere of influence'.
She was addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg as the US ramped up efforts to mediate a deal between Kyiv and Moscow.
Discussions this week in Geneva and Abu Dhabi have led Ukraine to agree to the 'essence' of a peace deal after alterations were made to an initial 28-point plan, which was heavily criticized for favoring Russia.
President Zelensky commented that the new draft represented 'the right approach' but acknowledged that significant issues with Russia remain, and the Kremlin has consistently downplayed suggestions of a compromise.
During her address, von der Leyen affirmed: 'I want to be clear from the very outset: Europe will stand with Ukraine and support Ukraine every step of the way.'
She also mentioned €210bn (£185bn) worth of Russian frozen assets held in European banks, noting that Belgium has opposed plans to direct these assets to Ukraine due to fears of international legal repercussions.
Concerns have been raised among other nations regarding the potential financial liability that might fall on European taxpayers should Russia initiate legal action against such a decision, although von der Leyen sought to reassure lawmakers on this point.
An 'options paper' and a legal framework have been prepared by the Commission, with a decision on the frozen assets expected from EU leaders in late December.
Recent diplomatic initiatives have excluded European leaders, who felt blindsided by a US-Russia peace proposal that suggested territorial concessions and military constraints on Ukraine.
European leaders have emphasized the necessity of being included in future negotiations to ensure their interests are represented. In a recent gathering chaired by France and the UK, leaders discussed the required security guarantees.
Von der Leyen stated that significant aspects of any future peace agreement will involve the EU and its NATO partners, urging that 'Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine. Nothing about Europe without Europe. Nothing about NATO without NATO.'
Despite elevated tensions and limited European involvement in diplomacy, the dialogue continues as the US Secretary of State and other officials prepare to mediate discussions between Ukraine and Russia.
In the meantime, President Zelensky has expressed a desire for a direct conversation with President Trump by the month's end to address unresolved issues, including Ukraine's eastern sovereignty and NATO membership.
Trump has indicated his willingness to engage in talks with both leaders but only when a credible deal is close to fruition.
