European Leaders Support Trump's Initiative for Ukraine Peace Talks

European leaders have issued a joint statement welcoming U.S. President Donald Trump's initiative to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding Ukraine. In the statement, the leaders emphasized that the goal remains to end hostilities and achieve a just and lasting peace.

The statement is co-signed by Emmanuel Macron, Giorgia Meloni, Friedrich Merz, Keir Starmer, Alexander Stubb, Donald Tusk, António Costa, and Ursula von der Leyen. According to the statement, Donald Trump briefed European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on his talks with Vladimir Putin. The next step, according to Trump, will be further talks with Zelenskyy, whom he will meet soon in Washington.

European leaders support a trilateral meeting of Trump – Zelenskyy – Putin, with the support of Europe, and emphasize that Ukraine must receive security guarantees to defend its sovereignty. They also welcomed Trump's statement that the U.S. is ready to provide such guarantees. According to the statement, there should be no restrictions on Ukraine's armed forces or its cooperation with third countries, and Russia cannot have a veto on Ukraine's path to the EU and NATO.

The joint statement reaffirms that only Ukraine can decide on its territory and that international borders cannot be changed by force. Support for Ukraine will continue, and Europe will intensify sanctions against Russia.