Several European leaders issued a joint statement on Saturday, following the inconclusive meeting in Alaska between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, declaring their continued support for a ‘strong’ Ukraine.
‘As long as the killing in Ukraine continues, we stand ready to uphold the pressure on Russia,’ the statement said. ‘We will continue to strengthen sanctions and wider economic measures to put pressure on Russia’s war economy until there is a just and lasting peace.’
The statement was jointly signed by the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, President Alexander Stubb of Finland and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, as well as the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was not a signatory of the statement.
The leaders rejected any question of a Russian veto on Ukraine’s potential membership of NATO or the EU, and said a European ‘coalition of the willing’ was ready to take part in guaranteeing Ukraine’s security.
‘We are clear that Ukraine must have ironclad security guarantees to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity,’ the statement said. ‘We welcome President Trump’s statement that the US is prepared to give security guarantees. The Coalition of the Willing is ready to play an active role. No limitations should be placed on Ukraine’s armed forces or on its cooperation with third countries. Russia cannot have a veto against Ukraine‘s pathway to EU and NATO.’
‘It will be up to Ukraine to make decisions on its territory. International borders must not be changed by force,’ it said.
The UK’s Keir Starmer also praised Donald Trump, saying ‘his efforts have brought us closer than ever before to ending Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine. His leadership in pursuit of an end to the killing should be commended’.
However, Starmer warned that peace could not be decided without President Zelensky and reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to providing security guarantees to Ukraine, which he said would be ‘crucial in deterring Putin from coming back for more’.
Starmer added: ‘In the meantime, until he stops his barbaric assault, we will keep tightening the screws on his [Putin’s] war machine with even more sanctions, which have already had a punishing impact on the Russian economy and its people. Our unwavering support for Ukraine will continue as long as it takes.’
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen posted on X: ‘The EU is working closely with President Zelensky and the United States to reach a just and lasting peace. Strong security guarantees that protect Ukrainian and European vital security interests are essential.’
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Thank you @POTUS for the update on discussions in Alaska.
The EU is working closely with @ZelenskyyUA and the United States to reach a just and lasting peace.
Strong security guarantees that protect Ukrainian and European vital security interests are essential.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) August 16, 2025
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