Ukraine must be free to decide its future, say EU leaders
The American president Donald Trump and the Russian president Vladimir Putin will meet on Friday in Alaska to discuss the war in Ukraine. The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky will not be present. Just on Monday, the high representative for foreign policy Kaja Kallas discussed the “next steps” during a special Foreign Affairs ministerial council, followed by a statement from the member states on Tuesday morning.
“We, the leaders of the EU countries, welcome President Trump’s efforts to end the Russian aggression war against Ukraine and to achieve a just and lasting peace and security for Ukraine,” the statement said. Such a peace agreement “must respect international law, including the principles of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the fact that international borders cannot be changed by force.”
Therefore, negotiations can only begin after a ceasefire between the two countries or a reduction in hostilities. In the meantime, the EU will continue to “exercise political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military, and diplomatic support for Ukraine” and “maintain restrictive measures against Russia.”
“The Russian aggression war against Ukraine has wider implications for European and international security. We share the belief that a diplomatic solution must protect both Ukraine’s and Europe’s vital security interests,” the leaders added. To this end, the member states will continue to provide Ukraine with security guarantees and support the country on its path to EU membership.
