BERLIN: A number of European leaders on Saturday (Aug 16) collectively pledged to proceed assist for Ukraine and keep 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 stated the following step have to be talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and that they had been able to work with Trump and Zelenskyy in the direction of a three-way summit with European assist.
Trump stated after his talks with Putin that Ukraine ought to conform to a deal to finish the conflict with Russia.
He stated he had agreed with the Russian chief that the easiest way to do that was to go straight to a peace settlement moderately than through 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 – stated Ukraine will need to have “ironclad” safety ensures to defend its territorial integrity.
“Will probably be as much as Ukraine to make selections on its territory. Worldwide borders should not be modified by drive.
“Our assist to Ukraine will proceed. We’re decided to do extra to maintain Ukraine robust so as to obtain an finish to the combating and a simply and lasting peace,” the assertion stated.
“So long as the killing in Ukraine continues, we stand able to uphold the stress on Russia. We are going to proceed to strengthen sanctions and wider financial measures to place stress on Russia’s conflict economic system till there’s a simply and lasting peace.”
