The European Union leaders, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, have issued a joint statement expressing hope for a sustainable and fair peace deal for Ukraine following a recent phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In their statement, the EU leaders emphasized that the war in Ukraine should end with a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace agreement. They expressed optimism that the recent phone call between Trump and Putin could represent progress toward this goal, reaffirming their unwavering support for Ukraine.
On Tuesday, Putin agreed to temporarily halt attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, but he refused to approve a full 30-day ceasefire that President Trump had hoped would be the first step toward a permanent peace agreement. Ukraine indicated it would support the deal, which would require both countries to stop targeting each other’s energy infrastructure for about a month.
Experts noted that Putin avoided making significant concessions, which could be part of a time-buying strategy as Russian forces continue to advance in eastern Ukraine.
