EU leaders back Ukraine ahead of Trump–Putin summit, Orbán stands apart
Photo: EU expressed support for Ukraine ahead of the Trump and Putin summit (Getty Images)
EU leaders expressed support for Ukraine ahead of the summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. Only the Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán, did not join the joint statement, according to Sky News and The Guardian.
EU leaders addressed Trump on the eve of the meeting with the Russian dictator.
"A just and lasting peace that brings stability and security must respect international law, including the principles of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and that international borders must not be changed by force," the statement reads.
The leaders of EU countries stated that Ukrainians must have the freedom to decide their future, and the path to peace cannot be determined without Ukraine.
"Meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities. Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has wider implications for European and international security. We share the conviction that a diplomatic solution must protect Ukraine's and Europe's vital security interests," the EU stated.
European countries also assured that they will continue to provide political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military, and diplomatic support to Ukraine, as well as impose sanctions against the Russian Federation.
"The European Union underlines the inherent right of Ukraine to choose its own destiny and will continue supporting Ukraine on its path towards EU membership," the leaders added.
The EU statement was meant to demonstrate European unity. However, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán did not support it, becoming the only one among the 27 leaders who refused to do so.
Trump–Putin meeting
US President Donald Trump will meet with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin on August 15. The summit will take place in Alaska. On the eve of this, Trump announced that he was allegedly going to Russia for a meeting with Putin. Later, it turned out that this was a slip of the tongue.
The US president suggested that a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine would likely require some exchange of territories. However, Trump stated that he would try to return to Ukraine part of the occupied territories.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy reminded that the territorial issue is enshrined in the Constitution, and Ukraine will not give its lands to the Russians. Zelenskyy also emphasized that first there must be a ceasefire, and then a search for a diplomatic solution.
Read more about what to expect from the meeting between Trump and Putin in the RBC-Ukraine material.
