Brussels, Belgium - October 17, 2024

The leaders of the European Union (EU) member states failed to reach a new consensus on the Ukraine crisis due to sharp divides during Thursday's summit in Brussels, Belgium.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also attended the meeting and presented his strategy, which he refers to as his "victory plan", in front of the EU leaders. He argued that there are only two paths to resolving the ongoing conflict with Russia - restoring Ukraine's nuclear deterrent or allowing Ukraine to join NATO unconditionally. Between these options, Ukraine prefers NATO membership.

Reports from European media outlets, citing sources, revealed that the EU leaders did not engage in in-depth discussions on Zelensky's proposal. Due to their persistent divisions, they also made no progress on the matter of committing substantial loans to Ukraine.

On social media, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban referred to the so-called "victory plan" as "more than frightening." He emphasized that what is needed now is a ceasefire and peace talks, rather than sending more weapons to Ukraine, asserting that the EU has recklessly involved itself in the conflict and its leaders bear responsibility for this.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico criticized the European Council, saying that it has effectively turned into a "military cabinet", concentrating solely on weapon deliveries to Ukraine.

Shotlist:
Brussels, Belgium - Oct 17, 2024:
1. European Union (EU) flags;
2. Various of EU flags, traffic around Berlaymont building (headquarters of European Commission), police cars, sign of European Commission;
3. Various of flags of EU member states, backdrop of European Commission;
4. Banner of European Commission outdoors;
FILE: Moscow, Russia - June 24, 2023
5. Buildings in Kremlin;
6. Traffic;
FILE: Kurchatov City, Kursk Oblast, Russia - Aug 12, 2024
7. Various of Kursk Nuclear Power Plant;
8. City view, traffic, pedestrians;
FILE: Mariupol, Donetsk - 2022
9. Aerial shot of Azovstal plant, smoke rising after air-strikes;
10. Various of destroyed buildings;
FILE: Hroza, Ukraine - Feb 17-18, 2024
11. Graves in cemetery;
12. Damaged buildings, debris;
FILE: Mariupol, Donetsk - May 17, 2022
13. Military vehicles running on road;
FILE: Mykolaiv, Ukraine - 2022
14. Artillery canon firing;
15. Weapons on truck;
16. Various of ground littered with weapon debris, disabled armored vehicle.

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