On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several European leaders accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of intentionally stalling diplomatic efforts aimed at ending his ongoing invasion of Ukraine. They firmly opposed any suggestions, including those from former U.S. President Donald Trump, that would require Ukraine to surrender land captured by Russian forces in exchange for peace.
In a united front, eight European leaders, along with senior officials from the European Union, issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to supporting Ukraine. They outlined plans to utilize Moscow’s frozen assets, amounting to billions of dollars (euros), to aid Ukraine in its ongoing conflict. Despite some concerns regarding the legality and potential repercussions of this strategy, the leaders emphasized the importance of standing firm against any Russian aggression.
The statement also expressed support for Trump’s upcoming peace efforts in Ukraine, as he is set to meet with Putin in Budapest, Hungary in the coming weeks. However, the leaders made it clear that they remain resolute in their belief that international borders should not be altered through force, underscoring their commitment to Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Recently, Trump altered his long-standing view that Ukraine would need to concede territory, now suggesting that Ukraine could potentially reclaim all land lost to Russia. However, following a phone conversation with Putin and a meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump’s stance shifted again. He called for both Kyiv and Moscow to "stop where they are" in the conflict that has lasted for over three years.
On Sunday, Trump remarked that the industrial Donbas region of eastern Ukraine should be “cut up,” allowing Russia to retain a significant portion. While he expressed optimism about Ukraine's prospects for victory against Russia, he has recently voiced doubts about the likelihood of this outcome.
Ukrainian and European leaders are actively working to maintain Trump’s support. “We strongly support President Trump’s position that the fighting should stop immediately, and that the current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations,” the joint statement asserted. They highlighted that Putin continues to favor violence and destruction over peaceful resolutions.
The dynamics surrounding Trump’s involvement in Europe’s most significant conflict since World War II have been inconsistent as he searches for a viable peace deal. Currently, Russia occupies around one-fifth of Ukraine, and Ukrainian officials have made it clear that any proposal to divide their nation in exchange for peace is unacceptable. Moreover, they fear that a frozen conflict at the current front lines could provide Moscow with opportunities for future attacks.
As the week unfolds, Zelenskyy indicated that it would be “very active in diplomacy.” An EU summit scheduled for Thursday in Brussels is expected to discuss additional international economic sanctions against Russia. “We must ramp up the pressure on Russia’s economy and its defense industry until Putin is ready to make peace,” the leaders stated on Tuesday, emphasizing the urgency of their collective action.
Furthermore, a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, a coalition of 35 countries supporting Ukraine, is set to be held in London on Friday, reinforcing the international community's commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and stability.
