European Leaders and Ukraine Endorse Trump's Peace Initiative While Calling for Increased Pressure on Russia

European leaders gathered to demonstrate unanimous support for Ukraine in their recent joint statement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The declaration explicitly endorses US President Trump's proposal for initiating peace talks based on the current frontline positions with Russia.

Trump has been working to facilitate a peace agreement to end the conflict that began with Russia's invasion in 2022, now approaching four years of hostilities. In recent discussions with both conflicting parties, he advocated for ceasing combat operations at the existing territorial positions.

"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," stated the declaration signed by Ukraine's Zelensky along with EU officials Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen, as well as leaders from France, Germany, Britain, Italy, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Poland.

The signatories emphasized: "We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force." This statement underscores their dedication to territorial sovereignty while recognizing practical negotiation parameters.

EU leaders plan to further solidify their support for Ukraine at the upcoming Brussels summit on Thursday. This will be followed by a strategic "coalition of the willing" meeting in London the next day, where European leaders will discuss additional measures to strengthen Ukraine's position.

Trump has announced plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest in the coming weeks. However, uncertainty remains about whether Zelensky would participate, particularly after being excluded from the previous Alaska meeting in August.

The European leaders clarified their position on any potential ceasefire: "We are clear that Ukraine must be in the strongest possible position, before, during, and after any ceasefire."

They further stressed the need for increased economic pressure on Russia: "We must ramp up the pressure on Russia's economy and its defence industry, until Putin is ready to make peace."

The European Union is currently evaluating a substantial new financial package for Ukraine - a €140 billion ($163 billion) loan funded by frozen Russian central bank assets. This proposal will be a central topic at Thursday's Brussels summit, with officials hoping to secure approval to develop a more comprehensive legal framework.