On Tuesday, Ukraine’s president, along with several European leaders, expressed concerns regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin’s approach to diplomatic negotiations aimed at ending the invasion of Ukraine. They reaffirmed their stance against any proposition, including those previously suggested by U.S. President Donald Trump, that Ukraine should relinquish territory captured by Russian forces in exchange for peace.
In a joint statement, the leaders of Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Poland, and Denmark, along with EU officials, announced their intention to move forward with plans to allocate billions of euros in frozen Russian assets abroad to support Ukraine’s efforts in the ongoing conflict. This decision was made despite existing concerns about the legality and implications of such actions.
President Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Starmer, Chancellor Merz, President Macron, Prime Minister Meloni, Prime Minister Tusk, President von der Leyen, President Costa, Prime Minister Støre, President Stubb, and Prime Ministers Frederiksen, Sánchez and Kristersson, reiterated that they remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force.
According to the Statement, “Russia’s stalling tactics have shown time and time again that Ukraine is the only party serious about peace. We can all see that Putin continues to choose violence and destruction.”
The statement also conveyed support for President Trump’s peace initiatives in Ukraine as he prepares for an upcoming meeting with President Putin in Budapest, Hungary.
“We strongly support President Trump’s position that the fighting should stop immediately, and that the current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations.”
Although a specific date for this summit has yet to be established, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicated a lack of urgency regarding the preparations, emphasising the necessity for thorough groundwork.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted that President Putin had recently re-engaged in diplomatic efforts, following a call made to Trump after the U.S. president indicated the potential provision of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
However, Zelenskyy noted that once the pressure on Russia diminished, there was a noticeable shift in their commitment to diplomacy, stating, “As soon as the pressure eased a little, the Russians began to try to abandon diplomacy and postpone dialogue.” He further asserted, “We need to end this war, and only sustained pressure will lead to peace.”
Last month, President Trump altered his previous position, which suggested that Ukraine would need to make territorial concessions. He now believes that Ukraine has the potential to reclaim all lost territory. Nevertheless, following a recent phone call with President Putin and a subsequent meeting with President Zelenskyy, Trump called for both Kyiv and Moscow to “stop where they are” amid the ongoing conflict that has persisted for over three years.
On Sunday, Trump proposed that the industrial Donbas region of eastern Ukraine should be “cut up,” with the majority remaining under Russian control. On Monday, he expressed scepticism about Ukraine’s ability to ultimately defeat Russia, while still acknowledging it as a possibility.
The complexities of President Trump’s involvement in this significant European conflict have varied as he seeks a viable path to peace. As Russia occupies approximately one-fifth of Ukraine, any proposal involving the division of the country as a condition for peace is unacceptable to Ukrainian officials. Moreover, a frozen conflict along the existing front line could result in future hostilities, as occupied regions may provide Russia with opportunities for renewed aggression.
Discussions regarding further international economic sanctions against Russia are anticipated at an upcoming EU summit in Brussels scheduled for Thursday.
The statement concluded with a call to action: “We must intensify the pressure on Russia’s economy and its defense industry until President Putin is prepared to engage in meaningful peace negotiations.” Additionally, a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, comprising 35 nations supporting Ukraine, is set to convene in London on Friday.
(This article used information from the Associated Press)
