The Ukrainians must have the freedom to decide their future, and a diplomatic solution must safeguard Ukraine’s and Europe’s interests – declared the leaders of 26 European Union member states.
Joint Statement by EU Leaders on Ukraine
The European Union leaders released a common statement regarding Ukraine. One country, however, deviated from the consensus, leaving its position ambiguously expressed.
Statement Published on Tuesday, August 12
The statement was issued on Tuesday, August 12. All EU member state leaders, except Hungary, signed it. The leaders stressed that effective negotiations can only take place within the context of a ceasefire or limited military operations. On Monday, the foreign ministers of the EU held a remote meeting to finalize the text. “EU foreign ministers support U.S. actions that lead to a just peace,” wrote Kaja Kallas, head of EU diplomacy. “Meanwhile we are working to increase sanctions on Russia, expand military aid to Ukraine, and bolster financial support for Ukraine’s budgetary needs and its accession process to the EU,” she added on X.
Trump‑Putin Meeting
Meanwhile, the exact time and location of the Friday summit in Alaska, involving the presidents of the United States and Russia, have not yet been announced. President Donald Trump stated that he would provide details about what he considers a fair agreement between Ukraine and Russia, again suggesting that some territorial exchange may occur. He added that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was not invited to the Friday talks, but that he would call Zelensky immediately after the meeting to convey the details. Trump announced that if a “fair agreement” is reached, he will disclose it to Zelensky and European leaders.
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