EU Leaders to Reaffirm Support for Ukraine’s Sovereignty Amid US-Russia Talks
Brussels: European Union leaders are preparing to issue a joint statement underlining the bloc’s support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and the necessity for Kyiv to participate in any discussions regarding its future. This comes ahead of the anticipated meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
According to Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, the seven-point draft statement, which has been seen by RFE/RL, was shared among EU member states following an online meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers. This meeting took place after US envoy Steve Witkoff’s session with Putin and subsequent briefings by US Vice President JD Vance to various European leaders and officials in England.
The draft statement expresses EU states’ endorsement of President Trump’s efforts to end Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine and to achieve a just and lasting peace for Ukraine. However, it emphasizes that such peace must adhere to international law, including independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, asserting that international borders should not be altered by force.
The draft mirrors a statement issued by several European leaders over the weekend, aiming for the rest of the EU to consolidate support for Ukraine’s diplomatic needs. It remains uncertain whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend the Alaska meeting, but the document asserts that Ukraine must have a say in its path to peace.
Scheduled for release on August 12, the statement is expected to be endorsed by 26 EU countries, excluding Hungary, which often diverges from common EU positions on Ukraine. Recent EU summit conclusions on Ukraine have been published as EU-26, excluding Budapest’s agreement, despite Hungary’s consent to further EU sanctions on Russia in July.
On territorial matters, the EU aligns with Ukraine’s stance of not recognizing any territories de jure. The diplomat highlighted that relinquishing areas like Kramatorsk, contested since 2014, is seen as unrealistic.
The draft also indicates the EU’s continued imposition of restrictive measures against Russia, showing reluctance to discuss sanction relief for Moscow, a topic reportedly discussed between Witkoff and Putin. Lifting sanctions requires consensus, with all measures due for renewal by unanimity in January 2026.
European nations and the EU have so far been unable to secure a place at negotiation tables between Kyiv, Washington, and Moscow. Earlier this year, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer proposed a “reassurance force” of up to 20,000 European troops in Western Ukraine, contingent on a cease-fire agreement. However, this plan remains dormant due to a lack of American military backing.
The statement reflects a commitment to enhancing security guarantees based on respective capabilities, and the EU, in coordination with the US and other partners, pledges continued support to Ukraine politically, financially, economically, humanitarianly, militarily, and diplomatically as it defends itself.