This is reported in a joint statement by French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Swedish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Finnish President Alexander Stubb on peace in Ukraine ahead of the planned meeting between President Trump and President Putin.
EU leaders expressed their support for President Trump’s efforts to end the violence in Ukraine, end the Russian Federation’s war of aggression and achieve just and sustainable peace and security for Ukraine. They are confident that only a comprehensive approach combining active diplomacy, support for Ukraine and pressure on the Russian Federation to end the illegal war will be successful.
The Heads of State and Government noted their readiness “to support this work both through diplomatic means and by increasing our significant military and financial assistance to Ukraine, including the actions of the Coalition of the Willing, as well as by strengthening and imposing sanctions against the Russian Federation.”
They stressed that diplomatic intervention must protect the vital security interests of Ukraine and Europe.
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“We agree that these vital interests include the need for reliable and enduring security guarantees that will enable Ukraine to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Ukraine has the right to freely determine its own destiny,” the statement said.
It also notes that constructive negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or a reduction in hostilities.
“The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine’s participation. We continue to adhere to the principle of the inadmissibility of changing international borders by force. The current line of contact should become the basis for negotiations,” the leaders say.
They reiterated that Russia’s unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine constitutes a flagrant violation of the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act, the Budapest Memorandum and Russia’s subsequent commitments. We underscore our unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
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