Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, together with the Presidents of the European Council Antonio Costa and the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, as well as the Prime Ministers of Denmark, the United Kingdom, Norway, Poland, Italy, the Chancellor of Germany and the Presidents of France and Finland, issued a joint statement, released by the European Commission, BTA reports.
It emphasizes the strong support for the position of US President Donald Trump that the fighting in Ukraine must stop immediately and that the current line of contact must serve as a starting point for negotiations. All leaders reaffirm the principle that international borders should not be changed by force.
„We are all united in our desire for a just and lasting peace, deserved by the people of Ukraine. Russia's stalling tactics show that only Ukraine is serious about peace. Putin continues to prefer violence and destruction," the statement said.
The leaders stressed that Ukraine must be in the strongest possible position before, during and after the ceasefire. Measures are planned to increase pressure on the Russian economy and defense industry until Russia shows readiness for peace, including by using the full value of frozen Russian assets for Ukraine's needs.
It is noted that on Thursday a meeting of the European Council in Brussels and a meeting in the form of a "coalition of the willing" are due to discuss possible additional support for Kiev.