Statement by President Macron, Prime Minister Meloni,
Chancellor Merz, Prime Minister Tusk, Prime Minister Starmer,
President von der Leyen and President Stubb on Peace for Ukraine
ahead of President Trump’s planned meeting with President Putin
We welcome President Trump’s work to stop the killing in Ukraine, end the
Russian Federation’s war of aggression, and achieve just and lasting peace and
security for Ukraine.
We are convinced that only an approach that combines active diplomacy,
support to Ukraine and pressure on the Russian Federation to end their illegal
war can succeed.
We stand ready to support this work diplomatically as well as by upholding
our substantive military and financial support to Ukraine, including through
the work of the Coalition of the Willing, and by upholding and imposing
restrictive measures against the Russian Federation.
We share the conviction that a diplomatic solution must protect Ukraine’s and
Europe’s vital security interests.
We agree that these vital interests include the need for robust and credible
security guarantees that enable Ukraine to effectively defend its sovereignty
and territorial integrity. Ukraine has the freedom of choice over its own
destiny. Meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a
ceasefire or reduction of hostilities. The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be
decided without Ukraine. We remain committed to the principle that
international borders must not be changed by force. The current line of
contact should be the starting point of negotiations.
We reiterate that Russia’s unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine is a
flagrant violation of the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act, the Budapest
Memorandum, and successive Russian commitments. We underline our
unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and
territorial integrity.
We continue to stand firmly by the side of Ukraine. We are united as
Europeans and determined to jointly promote our interests. And we will
continue to cooperate closely with President Trump and with the United
States of America, and with President Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine, for
a peace in Ukraine that protects our vital security interests.