The European Council has released a joint statement signed by major European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, European Council President António Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The declaration came after the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, which ended without an agreement on a ceasefire or peace deal.
In the statement, the leaders said they welcome Trump’s efforts to stop the killings in Ukraine, end Russia’s aggression, and achieve a just and lasting peace. They also stressed that, as Trump himself stated, “there is no deal until there is a deal”, underlining the need for further negotiations.
The European leaders emphasized that the next step must involve Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is scheduled to meet President Trump at the White House on Monday. They also expressed readiness to work with both Trump and Zelensky toward a potential three-party summit that would also include Putin.
The statement highlighted that Ukraine must receive strong and undeniable security guarantees to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. It also echoed earlier remarks by Trump that the United States is prepared to provide security guarantees for Ukraine.
Importantly, the declaration clarified that no restrictions should be placed on Ukraine’s armed forces or its ability to cooperate with third countries, stressing that:
“Russia cannot have a veto over Ukraine’s path toward EU or NATO membership. Ukraine alone decides its future, and international borders cannot and must not be changed by force.”
The European leaders reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine, pledging to increase pressure on Russia through stronger sanctions and broader economic measures until a fair and durable peace is achieved.
The statement concludes by guaranteeing that Ukraine can count on Europe’s steadfast solidarity as efforts continue to secure peace, protect Ukraine’s sovereignty, and defend the security of the European continent.
