Aysu Bicer
13 February 2025•Update: 13 February 2025
LONDON
As US President Donald Trump said he agreed with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to begin negotiations to end the Ukraine war, European leaders on Thursday reaffirmed their commitment to Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity, vowing to strengthen their support for the country.
In a joint statement, Germany, the UK, France, Poland, Italy, and Spain underscored their shared goal of backing Ukraine until a “just, comprehensive, and lasting peace” is achieved—one that ensures both Ukraine’s interests and the security of Europe as a whole.
“We are ready to enhance our support for Ukraine. We commit to its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s war of aggression,” the statement read.
The leaders emphasized the importance of working closely with the US to develop a strategy that places Ukraine in a position of strength in any future negotiations.
They insisted that both Ukraine and Europe must be central to any peace discussions and stressed the need for robust security guarantees for Kyiv.
“A just and lasting peace in Ukraine is a necessary condition for a strong transatlantic security,” the statement said, adding that the security of the European continent remains a “common responsibility.”
Trump separately discussed the three-year-long war on Wednesday with Putin and Zelenskyy.
The phone calls came after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said a return to Ukraine's pre-2014 borders – when Russia annexed Crimea - was unrealistic and that the US does not see NATO membership for Kyiv as part of a negotiated settlement to end the conflict.
