“Our position is clear,” Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday during a joint briefing with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Brussels, announcing a forthcoming nineteenth economic sanction package against Russia.
Commission President Speaks Before U.S. Departure
During the Sunday briefing with President Zelensky, Ursula von der Leyen announced that the European Commission will finalize a nineteenth set of economic sanctions against Russia in September. She met the Ukrainian president on August 17 in Brussels. Following their bilateral talk, she emphasized that Ukraine must determine its own future and assured EU states will support Kyiv until a just and lasting peace is achieved. “Our position is clear. International borders cannot be altered by force. Only Ukraine can make such decisions, and they must include Ukrainian participation,” she added, reaffirming support for Ukraine’s EU membership aspirations.
Zelensky: We Need Real Negotiations
Zelensky stressed that Ukraine requires genuine negotiations, pointing to the current front line as the starting point. He stated there have been no signals from Russia that a trilateral summit will take place.
European Leaders Set for Washington with Zelensky
On Monday, August 18, President Zelensky is set to discuss the details of a trilateral meeting among Ukraine, the United States, and Russia with President Donald Trump. In Kyiv, the news of Western politicians’ presence at the US president’s meeting with Zelensky was welcomed. The delegation will include EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Ukrainian commentators believe the Western delegation will help Zelensky steer clear of tensions with President Trump, recalling the February Oval Office clash. They note the stakes are high and any complications must be avoided. Sources in Washington suggested the trilateral summit could occur on Friday, August 22, though the Kremlin has yet to comment.
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