BERLIN: A number of European leaders on Saturday (Aug 16) collectively pledged to proceed assist for Ukraine and preserve strain on Russia till the struggle 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 following step should 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 mentioned after his talks with Putin that Ukraine ought to conform to a deal to finish the struggle with Russia.
He mentioned he had agreed with the Russian chief that one of the simplest ways to do that was to go straight to a peace settlement slightly 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 – 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 as a way to obtain an finish to the combating and a simply and lasting peace,” the assertion mentioned.
“So long as the killing in Ukraine continues, we stand able to uphold the strain on Russia. We are going to proceed to strengthen sanctions and wider financial measures to place strain on Russia’s struggle financial system till there’s a simply and lasting peace.”
