EU demands Russian ceasefire, vows 'unwavering' Ukraine support
European Union leaders on Thursday reaffirmed their "firm and unwavering support" for Ukraine and pressed Moscow to accept a full, unconditional ceasefire, warning that the path to peace cannot be decided without Kyiv and that borders must not be changed by force.
The European Council on Thursday pledged continued political, financial and military assistance to Ukraine while demanding that Russia agree to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, stressing that any settlement must respect Kyiv's territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders.
Meeting in Brussels, EU leaders said that "the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine," adding that "the aggressor cannot be rewarded" and that borders must not be altered by force. They emphasized that only a settlement grounded in the UN Charter and international law could deliver a just and lasting peace, according to council conclusions released after the summit.
Russia condemned over civilian strikes
The council strongly condemned Russia's recent escalation of attacks, including large-scale missile and drone strikes targeting civilians and energy infrastructure across Ukraine. Leaders specifically denounced strikes on Kyiv's UNESCO-listed Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery, calling such attacks violations of international humanitarian law that threaten cultural heritage.
EU leaders also criticized Moscow's "increasingly aggressive" behavior toward member states, citing disinformation campaigns and repeated violations of territorial waters and airspace. They singled out an incident in which a Russian drone carrying explosives crashed into a residential building in Romania, warning that such events endanger EU citizens and regional stability.
Military aid and security guarantees
The European Council called for accelerated military assistance to Kyiv, particularly air defense systems, ammunition, drones and missiles, and said it was prepared to contribute to "robust and credible security guarantees" through the Coalition of the Willing and cooperation with the United States.
Leaders welcomed recently adopted sanctions targeting Russia's shadow fleet and urged the swift approval of a 21st sanctions package against Moscow. The council also reiterated calls for accountability for war crimes and the immediate return of Ukrainian children and civilians deported to Russia, while welcoming the June 15 opening of the first negotiating cluster in Ukraine's EU accession process.
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