Following the Munich Security Conference and Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to the White House in February 2025, Europe must prepare to face security challenges without US support. The potential withdrawal of security guarantees that have been built up over decades forces a fundamental reassessment not only of Europe’s capacities and resources, but also of the very founding of its security architecture. In this context the Weimar Triangle, a format consisting of France, Germany and Poland, is well positioned to support Ukraine’s European integration and strengthen its security through its collective diplomatic influence, economic resources, and strategic coordination.

1. Complement the reconstruction of European security architecture. Several Weimar + formats have the possibility to complement the ReArm Europe plan. Together with the UK, a nuclear deterrent could be provided; here, possibilities for pan-European capabilities should be explored to prevent another discussion after possible government change. Additionally, the situation in Ukraine gives insight into the future of warfare. Based on this experience, the EU should invest in joint research for drones and new military technologies to maximise output and shorten the timeframe in building credible deterrence.
2. Utilize (external) bilateral and minilateral cooperations. Keep the momentum and support for Ukraine by using and coordinating each member’s diplomatic impact e.g. France’s and Germany’s global economic influence (G7), France’s impact in francophone countries, and Poland’s close cooperation with the Nordic-Baltic Eight.
3. Foster bottom-up European integration. Local and regional authorities play a crucial role in supporting Ukraine’s EU accession process. The Weimar format could facilitate exchanges aimed at enhancing the capabilities of Ukrainian local authorities by alleviating the lack of human resources and providing training in areas critical to EU integration. Furthermore, bolstering civil society initiatives and engaging diverse stakeholders would promote cooperation across different sectors of society.
4. Address divisive issues ahead of time. The Weimar + Ukraine format offers an effective forum for coordinating sensitive discussions before making public declarations. By finding solutions in advance for issues such as the divisive past in Polish-Ukrainian relations, as well as the fear of a competitive Ukrainian agricultural sector, this multilateral format can prevent future delays to the accession negotiations.