London - As U.S. President Donald Trump said he had agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin to begin negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, European leaders on Thursday (Feb 13) reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and pledged to strengthen support for the country.
In a joint statement, Germany, Britain, France, Poland, Italy and Spain affirmed their shared goal of supporting Ukraine until a “just, comprehensive and sustainable” peace is achieved, a peace that ensures not only Ukraine’s interests but also the security of Europe as a whole.
"We stand ready to step up our support for Ukraine. We are committed to its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia's war of aggression," the statement said.
European leaders also stressed the importance of working closely with the US on devising a strategy that could put Ukraine in a strong position in any future negotiations.
They stressed that both Ukraine and Europe must be key parties in any peace talks and highlighted the need for strong security guarantees for Kiev.