Brussels, Feb 26 /Agerpres/ - Ukraine faces pressure to negotiate with Russia on the third anniversary of President Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion. Europe meanwhile tries to rally to Ukraine's side with the noticeable absence of the United States.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for 'real, lasting peace' this year as European leaders gathered for a summit in Kiev to mark the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.

'We have to win peace through strength and wisdom and unity,' he said on Monday, vowing that Russia 'will not win'.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to launch an invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 set off the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II.

Tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides and Ukrainian civilians have been killed. Cities across the country's South and East have been flattened and millions were forced to flee their homes.

In spite of Ukraine's staunch defence, Russia has been making steady gains across the front line. They beat back outgunned defenders in Eastern Ukraine in recent months and added to the pressure on Kiev to negotiate with the Kremlin for peace after three years of fighting.

US absent at invasion anniversary with mineral deal close
But as Ukraine's backers lined up to proclaim support and hail Kiev's resistance, there was one notable absence: the United States.

Donald Trump's return to the White House has threatened broad Western support for Ukraine as well as vital military and financial aid at a critical juncture.

His opening of peace talks with Putin without consulting European leaders, a false claim that Ukraine 'started' the war, and verbal attacks on Zelenskyy have triggered alarm across Europe.

EU countries are concerned that, in his desire to end the conflict, Trump will offer Moscow favourable conditions without providing Kiev with security guarantees while keeping European powers away from negotiations.

Russian officials meanwhile have been buoyed by Trump's outreach, sensing an opportunity to push their core demands: the roll-back of NATO's military presence in Europe, territorial concessions from Ukraine and the end of Western military support to Kiev.

Washington urged Ukraine and Russia on Monday to back its plan to end the war. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov retorted though that Russia would only agree to a ceasefire if Moscow's conditions are met.

Russia's conditions include the recognition by Kiev of territory seized by Moscow and Ukraine's 'categorical and binding renunciation of NATO membership', Lavrov said at a press conference in Ankara, where he met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Including the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, Russia now controls about 20 percent of Ukraine's territory.

Moscow also accused Europe of wanting to prolong the fighting on the anniversary of its invasion of Ukraine.

According to media reports late on Tuesday, Kiev and Washington agreed to the terms of a deal to give the US preferential access to rare minerals - one of the sources of disagreement that has exploded over the last week.

Trump has pressured Ukraine to give him access to half of the natural resources it possesses as payment for the aid offered by Washington in the context of the war.

Kiev has previously rejected the conditions of the agreement proposed by the US, considering them abusive and not including specific guarantees that Washington will not stop offering security assistance to Kiev.

Although no US representative spoke at the Kiev anniversary summit, Trump did speak with Zelenskyy in an online meeting held by G7 leaders that same day.

'We had a conversation and it was a very positive conversation,' Zelenskyy said.

Europe warns of Putin's threat
Among those who did travel to Kiev was European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who, like other EU leaders, called on Washington to include Europe in the peace talks with Russia.

Von der Leyen also warned that despite opening talks with the US on how to end the conflict, Putin was not about to back down. 'Putin is trying harder than ever to win this war on the ground. His goal remains Ukraine's capitulation,' she said.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said: 'Putin's aggression is not an impulsive act. It is a strategic game to challenge the security and stability of Europe. That is why we cannot be indifferent.'

Everyone wanted peace, Fiala said, but it could not be the result of surrendering to an aggressor. 'We need a just and sustainable peace that includes guarantees of security and stability,' he added.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkoviæ told the Kiev anniversary summit that the peace in Ukraine should not only stop the fighting but it should also plan for the reintegration of Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia.

Croatia could assist with its experience of occupations in the 1990s in the fighting after the breakup of Yugoslavia, Plenkoviæ said.

Amid the peace talks discussions, Zelenskyy repeated his call for security guarantees from Kiev's backers to ensure Russia did not use any ceasefire to rearm and attack again at a later date.

Europe reaffirms support
European leaders have been grappling with the absence of the US while trying to reaffirm their support for Ukraine as Trump makes overtures to Moscow above their heads.

To coincide with the anniversary, Brussels announced a 16th round of sanctions aimed at curbing the Russian war effort in a move echoed by Britain, which leveled penalties against 100 entities.

Von der Leyen also announced that the European Union would disburse an aid payment for Ukraine worth 3.5 billion Euro in March rather than later this year. She also pledged further measures to increase the energy security of Ukraine and the EU.

Canada, Spain, Norway, Finland and other countries also pledged financial support to Ukraine, totalling €10 billion, according to Ukrainian media.

At a meeting with the European Commission at the anniversary summit, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal called for his country's accession to the EU to be sped up.

Von der Leyen commended Ukraine for their fast progress but declined to set a date for their entry. She did acknowledge though that Ukraine could join even before 2030 if it maintains the speed and the quality of the reforms.

EU leaders will also hold a special summit on the Ukraine war on March 6. 'We are living a defining moment for Ukraine and European security,' said European Council President Antonio Costa.

The content of this article is based on reporting by AFP, CTK, dpa, EFE, HINA, STA, as part of the European Newsroom (enr) project. AGERPRES (editing by: Mariana Ionescu)