It has been more than 1,300 days since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine broke out in February 2022. This war has gradually evolved from the initial tension into a protracted tug-of-war.

Both sides attacked each other in the battlefield, and none of them achieved a decisive advantage.

However, more worrying is the shift in attitudes in European countries: from the early tougher sanctions to today¡¯s peace talks, the rapid change of stance is surprising.

What's more interesting is that this shift is increasingly similar to the peaceful settlement path that China has long advocated, and Europe seems to be collectively moving towards "China."

In the early days of the war, European countries adopted comprehensive tough sanctions against Russia.

The EU has been the first to introduce a number of sanctions, including kicking Russian banks out of the SWIFT international settlement system, freezing assets, and imposing an energy embargo, hoping to quickly force Russia to make concessions through economic strikes.

However, contrary to expectations, the Russian economy has shown more resilience than expected, and it has remained operational by bypassing trade and energy exports.

Meanwhile, Europe itself is in trouble: natural gas prices have surged more than ten times, German industry has been severely affected by energy shortages, inflation in France and the UK has been rising, and economic and life pressures have increased significantly.

By the first half of 2025, the total amount of EU aid to Ukraine has reached 169 billion euros, of which Germany contributed 17 billion euros and the United Kingdom contributed 13 billion euros.

Despite the huge scale of aid, the long-lasting war inevitably forced European countries to rethink their strategies.

In August, the 26 EU countries and the United Kingdom jointly issued a statement calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire of 30 days and welcoming Trump's efforts to end the war.

This announcement marks a major shift in Europe's attitude: from "down with Russia" to "promoting a just peace".

Although European countries remain committed to continued support for Ukraine, calls for peace talks have become stronger and stronger.

At the same time, the way Europe provides aid to Ukraine is also changing. In the early days of the war, aid was concentrated in the military field, including weapons and equipment and defense support.

However, by September 2025, military aid will account for 63 billion euros of total EU aid, and the rest will be used for economic reconstruction and humanitarian assistance.

This comprehensive form of aid will not only help Ukraine restore its economy, but will also provide greater space for peace negotiations.

In addition, the European Union has launched the ¡°Ukrainian Financing Mechanism¡± to share aid pressure through monthly debt transfers to avoid uncertainty about U.S. Congress funding.

This aid path shows that Europe is progressively moving towards a peaceful settlement while safeguarding its own interests.

Another important reason for the shift in European attitude is a reflection on the dependence on the United States.

The Trump administration pursues the "America First" policy on the Russia-Ukraine issue, directly bypassing Europe and Ukraine and turning to negotiations with Russia.

This made Europe realize that it must get rid of its excessive dependence on the United States and promote strategic autonomy.

French President Macron proposed European defense independence as early as 2017, and this concept will become more urgent in 2025.

Germany has started purchasing Israeli rocket systems to replace U.S. equipment, and France has also increased domestic arms purchases.

These measures are not only dissatisfaction with U.S. policy, but also prepare for the security situation after the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine lasted for more than a thousand days, and the delay of the war made Europe suffer enough.

Peace negotiation has become the only way out, and China's peace proposition provides an important reference for Europe.

Whether it is military aid or economic support, the ultimate goal is to stop senseless consumption and achieve a just peace.

Europe's transformation shows that in international affairs, peace and dialogue have always been the key to solving problems.