Zelenskyy Welcomes European Leaders’ Insistence on Ukraine’s Role

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed strong support for a joint statement issued by European leaders, reaffirming that Ukraine must be included in any peace negotiations concerning the ongoing conflict with Russia. This statement comes ahead of a planned summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15.

The joint declaration, endorsed by leaders from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland, and the European Union, emphasises that any path to peace must involve Ukraine and respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The leaders also pledged to continue providing substantial military and financial support to Ukraine and to uphold its right to defend itself against aggression. President Zelenskyy welcomed the statement, stating that Ukraine "values and fully supports" the European leaders' position. He reiterated that "the end of the war must be fair," and expressed gratitude to those standing with Ukraine in defence of its security interests and European stability.

The upcoming Trump-Putin summit has raised concerns in Kyiv, especially after President Trump suggested that a resolution might involve "some swapping of territories." Ukrainian officials have firmly rejected any territorial concessions, emphasising that Ukraine will not cede land to Russia.

European leaders have warned that any peace agreement excluding Ukraine would be unviable and counterproductive. They have also called for increased pressure on Russia to cease its aggressive actions and to engage in meaningful negotiations.

As the international community watches closely, the inclusion of Ukraine in peace talks remains a critical issue for ensuring a just and lasting resolution to the conflict.

Sources:

Reuters, Associated Press, The Guardian, Al Jazeera