European leaders back Ukraine in peace talks with Russia

European leaders have issued a unified statement supporting Ukraine's participation in potential peace negotiations with Russia while establishing key conditions for any settlement. The joint declaration endorsed US President Donald Trump's call for an immediate cessation of hostilities but emphasized Ukraine must maintain a strong position throughout any diplomatic process.

Unified European Position

The statement, signed by leaders from Germany, France, Italy, Poland, the United Kingdom, Finland, Denmark, Norway, and European Union officials, represents a coordinated transatlantic response to renewed peace efforts. The leaders affirmed their collective desire for "a just and lasting peace" for Ukraine while supporting the concept of using current contact lines as negotiation starting points.

Principles and Accusations

The European and Ukrainian leaders firmly rejected altering international borders through military force, establishing this as a fundamental principle for any settlement. They collectively accused Russia of employing stalling tactics in previous negotiations, asserting that "Putin continues to choose violence and destruction" over genuine diplomatic engagement.

Two-Track Strategy and Economic Pressure

The declaration outlined a dual approach combining increased military support for Ukraine with enhanced economic pressure on Russia. Leaders emphasized developing measures to utilize frozen Russian sovereign assets to support Ukraine's defense and reconstruction, targeting hundreds of billions of dollars in immobilized Russian central bank reserves.

Future Diplomatic Coordination

European officials plan to continue discussions on Ukraine support mechanisms during upcoming EU Council meetings in Brussels and a Coalition of the Willing gathering in London. The focus will remain on coordinating enhanced political, economic, and military assistance to strengthen Ukraine's negotiating position in potential peace talks.