European leaders have indicated that intensive work will continue in the coming days regarding a US-led plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war following a joint phone call with President Donald Trump.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized the moment's criticality for Ukraine and its people, reflecting on the shared security across the Euro-Atlantic region.
Trump indicated that discussions surrounding Ukraine included strong words and acknowledged there were some little disputes about people. This conversation followed Trump's recent comments accusing European leaders of weakness, suggesting the US might reduce its support for Ukraine.
During a wide-ranging interview published by Politico, Trump accused Ukraine of using the war as a pretext to avoid holding elections, which prompted President Volodymyr Zelensky to assert his readiness for elections under secure conditions.
Since the full-scale invasion launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin in February 2022, Moscow currently controls approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.
The joint statement released by the three European leaders after their call welcomed ongoing US-led peace initiatives aimed at achieving a durable peace in Ukraine and emphasized the importance of continued discussions, underscoring the complexity of arriving at a viable agreement.
A significant challenge remains the issue of territorial integrity, with Ukraine steadfast in its positioning that crucial decisions about its land must be made by its own government.
Ahead of the call, Zelensky had been vocal about the necessity for strong security guarantees in any agreement and remains under pressure from Trump to negotiate territory concessions to Moscow, which Zelensky has consistently rejected.
The Kremlin has welcomed Trump's statements, viewing them as aligned with their perspective on the conflict. Recently, Putin reiterated demands that Ukrainian troops withdraw from the Donbas region, illustrating the continued stalemate.
As negotiations advance, the European leaders are poised to strike a balance between supporting Ukraine and ensuring robust US involvement in any potential peace agreement.
