Berlin, 12 December 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Germany and other European countries pledged on Thursday to provide Ukraine with viable security guarantees should negotiations on a ceasefire take place after US President Donald Trump takes office.

In a so-called Berlin Declaration, the foreign ministers of Germany, France, Poland, Italy, Spain and the UK, as well as the EU's foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas, outlined their continued support for Kiev.

"We are committed to providing Ukraine with ironclad security guarantees, including reliable long-term provision of military and financial support," the declaration said.

The meeting in Berlin was organized by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

The group came together to discuss steps to strengthen Ukraine in the event that Trump were to cut back military aid to Kiev after taking office on January 20 and push for a ceasefire with Russia, as he has indicated.

"Convinced that peace in Ukraine and security in Europe are inseparable, we are determined to stand united with our European and transatlantic partners to think and act big on European security," the declaration added.

Ahead of the meeting, Baerbock said: "Here in this circle, we are unanimous. Ukraine needs tough security guarantees."

The guarantees for Kiev would send a "clear message," the foreign minister said. "We stand up for the security and future of our European continent."

Ukraine wants further sacntions against Russia

Kallas said that more needed to be done to support Ukraine in its defence against Russia.

"We have to do more to strengthen Ukraine on the battlefield," she stated. "The stronger they are on the battlefield, the stronger they are behind negotiations.

"And of course, it's up to Ukraine to say when they are ready to sit around any negotiation table," Kallas added.

Baerbock and Kallas did not answer questions about the participation of German or European soldiers in a possible peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.

Earlier in December, Baerbock refused to rule out the prospect, drawing criticism in Germany.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha was also at the meeting and called for "strong sanctions" on Moscow.

"[Russian President Vladimir] Putin understands only force. That is why I am here," Sybiha said.

"And we do really hope that this established format will strengthen our joint efforts to achieve our strategic goal: just, comprehensive, long-lasting peace in Ukraine," he added.

EU offers support

The European Commission has meanwhile offered its support in the discussions about a peacekeeping mission to secure a possible future ceasefire in Ukraine.

The EU is prepared to coordinate efforts in this direction, said a spokeswoman for Kallas in Brussels.

Representatives of several NATO states have been holding confidential talks for weeks on how a possible future ceasefire in Ukraine could be monitored, sources told dpa.

Concerns are growing that Trump could try to pressure Ukraine and Russia into negotiations once he is back in office in late January.

French President Emmanuel Macron was also meeting Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw on Thursday to discuss European support for Ukraine under the new US administration.

According to diplomats, a possible peacekeeping mission was also likely to be on the agenda.

Photo: Baerbock on X