Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and top European leaders have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of delaying diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine, firmly opposing any attempt to force Kyiv to cede territory captured by Russian forces in exchange for peace, as has occasionally been suggested by U.S. President Donald Trump.
In a joint statement, eight European leaders and senior EU officials pledged to implement plans to use billions of dollars in frozen Russian assets abroad to help Ukraine succeed in the conflict, despite some legal and strategic concerns about such measures.
“We fully support President Trump’s position that fighting must stop immediately and that the current contact line should serve as the starting point for negotiations. We all see that Putin continues to choose violence and destruction,” the statement said.
The leaders, aiming to maintain alignment with Trump ahead of his anticipated meeting with Putin in Budapest, stressed that international borders cannot be changed by force.
Zelensky noted that Putin temporarily returned to diplomacy last week, requesting a phone call with Trump after Trump suggested the possible delivery of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
“But as soon as the pressure eased, the Russians began trying to back away from diplomacy and delay dialogue,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
“This war must end, and only sustained pressure will bring peace.”
No date has yet been set for the Trump-Putin summit in Budapest, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasizing that “serious preparations” are required and there is no urgency.
Trump has recently shifted his long-standing position on territorial concessions, initially suggesting Ukraine might have to give up land. However, after recent talks with both Putin and Zelensky, he urged Moscow and Kyiv to stand on the current front lines. He also suggested dividing the Donbas industrial region, leaving a larger portion under Russian control, a stance rejected by Kyiv and European officials.
“A frozen conflict along the current front could smolder for years, and occupied Ukrainian territories would provide Moscow a springboard for future attacks,” officials warned.
The joint statement was signed by leaders from Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Denmark, and senior EU officials.
