A number of European leaders, the EU's highest representatives and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyj write in a joint statement under the US President Donald Trump's wish for an immediate ceasefire.
In continued negotiations for a peace solution, they believe that "the current contact line should be the starting point". But they also add the following reservation:
"We stand firm on the principle that international borders must not be changed with violence."
Donald Trump has urged the parties to end the fighting and "stay where they are" at present, but also claimed that eastern Ukraine should be "divided up". It is then unclear whether a de facto ceasefire line in a ceasefire could lead to a formal change in the countries' borders, but Ukraine and the European leaders explicitly oppose the latter.
"Let it be divided up"
In addition to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia invaded and annexed in 2014, parts of four Ukrainian regions are under Russian occupation. Russia claims to have annexed all four in their entirety since autumn 2022, but they do not control them completely and fighting continues.
Last Sunday, US President Trump said that the Donbass area in Ukraine - with the two affected regions Donetsk and Luhansk - will need to be "divided up" so that Russia can keep the larger part.
Let it be divided up as it is. It is already divided now, said Trump.
They can negotiate something later.
Conflicting messages
Earlier last week, Ukraine's President visited Washington DC. When Volodymyr Zelenskyj met with Donald Trump, many believed that announcements would be made about new, more advanced robot deliveries to Ukraine to put pressure on Russia.
No such announcement was made. Trump, who had spoken on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin before the meeting, is said to have again suggested major Ukrainian concessions to the Russians. Putin "will take something" of what has been conquered, said the American President in a TV interview.
"Russia's delaying tactics have shown time and time again that Ukraine is the only party that is serious about peace. We can all see that Putin continues to choose violence and destruction", the European leaders, including Zelenskyj, write.
Therefore, Ukraine must be given the strongest possible position in the negotiations and in a future ceasefire, they emphasize, and promise continued measures to increase pressure on Putin.
Martin Mederyd Hårdh/TT
Facts: The signatories
TT
The following leaders have signed the European and Ukrainian response:
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyj
France's President Emmanuel Macron
Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
UK's Prime Minister Keir Starmer
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
EU Council President António Costa
Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen
Finland's President Alexander Stubb
Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez
Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson
