Ukraine is ready to halt hostilities along the current front line, which should serve as the starting point for negotiations, according to a joint statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 21, the European Union leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to achieving a just and lasting peace for the people of Ukraine, emphasizing that any resolution must respect international law and the principle that borders cannot be changed by force.
“We are all united in our desire for a just and lasting peace, deserved by the people of Ukraine,” the statement read.
“We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force.”
European Leaders Rally Behind Trump’s Call
Leaders of nations, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Ukraine, and the European Union, backed U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for the fighting to “stop immediately.”
“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,” they said.
Trump has been vocal about his belief that Ukraine cannot win the war against Russia without compromise, reportedly telling allies that Kyiv would need to make territorial concessions or “face destruction” during a heated meeting at the White House last week.
“They could still win it, I don’t think they will,” the U.S. president said during a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
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Tougher Sanctions on Russia Ahead of Ceasefire Talks
The European leaders also accused Russia of repeatedly employing stalling tactics, stressing that Ukraine remains the only party genuinely committed to peace.
“Russia’s stalling tactics have shown time and time again that Ukraine is the only party serious about peace. We can all see that Putin continues to choose violence and destruction,” the statement read.
The leaders further underscored that Ukraine must be in the strongest possible position before, during, and after any potential ceasefire.
They also highlighted the need to intensify economic and defense pressure on Russia until Moscow demonstrates a genuine willingness to negotiate.
Also Read: Ukraine Shoots Down 283 Russian Drones and 56 Missiles
To achieve this, they announced plans to develop mechanisms for using the full value of Russia’s immobilized sovereign assets to provide Ukraine with the resources it needs to sustain its defense and recovery.
“We must ramp up the pressure on Russia’s economy and its defense industry until Putin is ready to make peace. We are developing measures to use the full value of Russia’s immobilized sovereign assets so that Ukraine has the resources it needs,” the leaders said.
The statement added that discussions on advancing these measures will continue later this week during meetings of the European Council and the “Coalition of the Willing,” where leaders are expected to outline next steps in reinforcing Ukraine’s position and pushing for peace.
Zelenskyy will attend the Coalition of the Willing meeting on Friday, October 24, in London.
The coalition – put together by France and Britain in February – has held talks for months at various levels to try to define plans for what countries could contribute militarily to Ukraine and to deter Russia from attacking it again once there is a final truce.
The joint statement was signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Portuguese President António Costa, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
Possible Ceasefire Talks
This comes after UK Defense Secretary John Healey said European troops are “ready to deploy” to Ukraine in the coming weeks if U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin reach a ceasefire agreement.
Following a surprise phone call last Thursday, October 16, the two leaders are planning to meet in Budapest, Hungary. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not been invited but said he is ready to join the talks.
Asked whether troops could be deployed if a deal was reached within the next two weeks, Healey said: “If President Trump can broker a peace, then we will be ready to help secure that peace.”
However, he added that Ukrainians must be the “people who will decide how and what” is negotiated in any peace talks.
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