NATO wants to arm Ukraine to the hilt before potential talks with Russia

Ukraine's allies want to put Kyiv in the best possible position by redoubling efforts to provide more weapons to negotiate a possible ceasefire with Russia.

Here's What We Know

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has shown no willingness to discuss a ceasefire, but Donald Trump's return to the White House has focused allies' attention on strengthening political will in the face of nearly three years of full-scale war in Ukraine, Bloomberg writes.

According to the agency's sources, foreign ministers in Brussels focused on how to supply more weapons. In addition, the governments have begun to consider various scenarios for ending the war that could be negotiated. The discussions include security guarantees that would protect Ukraine without provoking Putin, the interlocutors said.

One possible option for a ceasefire is the creation of a demilitarised zone. According to one NATO diplomat, in the event of a ceasefire, European troops would likely guarantee Kyiv's security. According to another Western diplomat, these discussions are taking place against the backdrop of an understanding that the situation in Ukraine is unstable and that negotiations should begin "soon."

For European allies, these scenarios also present an opportunity to show Trump that Europe is an important geopolitical player if the ceasefire talks take concrete shape.

Source: Bloomberg