Leaders of several European countries and the EU leadership have issued a joint statement expressing support for U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative for the immediate cessation of hostilities in Ukraine and the start of peace negotiations based on the current line of contact.
The parties emphasized the inadmissibility of changing internationally recognized borders and called for increased pressure on the Russian economy, according to a joint statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the presidents of France and Finland, the prime ministers of the UK, Italy, Poland, and Norway, the German Chancellor, the President of the European Commission, and the President of the European Council.
The text was published online by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
"We strongly support President Trump's position that the fighting should stop immediately, and that the current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations. We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force," the statement reads.
It stresses that Russia’s delays in the process demonstrate that Ukraine is the only party genuinely seeking peace, and therefore it must be in the strongest possible position before, during, and after any ceasefire.
"We must ramp up the pressure on Russia's economy and its defence industry, until Putin is ready to make peace. We are developing measures to use the full value of Russia's immobilised sovereign assets so that Ukraine has the resources it needs," the statement adds.
The document also notes that this week, leaders will meet within the European Council and the Coalition of the Willing to discuss how to advance this work and continue supporting Ukraine.
