BERLIN: A number of European leaders on Saturday (Aug 16) collectively pledged to proceed assist for Ukraine and preserve stress on Russia till the conflict in Ukraine ends, after a summit in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The joint assertion from leaders, together with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, was issued after Trump briefed them on his talks with Putin.
It mentioned the subsequent step have to be talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and that they have been able to work with Trump and Zelenskyy in the direction of a three-way summit with European assist.
Trump mentioned after his talks with Putin that Ukraine ought to comply with a deal to finish the conflict with Russia.
He mentioned he had agreed with the Russian chief that one of the best ways to do that was to go straight to a peace settlement quite than by way of a ceasefire, one thing hitherto opposed by Kyiv and its European allies.
The European assertion – additionally signed by EU Fee President Ursula von der Leyen, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and European Council President Antonio Costa – mentioned Ukraine should have “ironclad” safety ensures to defend its territorial integrity.
“It is going to be as much as Ukraine to make selections on its territory. Worldwide borders should not be modified by pressure.
“Our assist to Ukraine will proceed. We’re decided to do extra to maintain Ukraine sturdy with a view to obtain an finish to the preventing and a simply and lasting peace,” the assertion mentioned.
“So long as the killing in Ukraine continues, we stand able to uphold the stress on Russia. We’ll proceed to strengthen sanctions and wider financial measures to place stress on Russia’s conflict financial system till there’s a simply and lasting peace.”
