BRUSSELS: EU leaders on Monday welcomed progress to secure a deal to end the war in Ukraine, while cautioning that several critical issues remain unresolved after intensive weekend talks to revise a draft plan proposed by the United States.
“There is a new momentum in peace negotiations,” European Council President Antonio Costa told reporters on the sidelines of a summit in Angola, after EU leaders held an emergency meeting on the issue.
“While work remains to be done, there is now a solid basis for moving forward,” added European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
“Some issues remain to be resolved, but the direction is positive,” he said.
He emphasised that issues involving the European Union, “such as sanctions, enlargement, or frozen Russian assets, require the full engagement and decisions of the EU.”
Speaking alongside him, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the “good progress” made in Geneva. She stressed that the EU’s core principles moving forward are that “Ukraine’s territory and sovereignty must be respected, and only Ukraine, as a sovereign nation, can make decisions regarding its armed forces.”
Von der Leyen also noted that European leaders plan to hold a video conference on Tuesday with a broader “coalition of the willing,” consisting of around 30 countries supporting Ukraine.
Both leaders reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to continue supporting Ukraine—diplomatically, financially, and with military equipment.
Von der Leyen underlined that “this is about the security of our entire continent.”
Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also welcomed “significant progress” in weekend talks to discuss peace in Ukraine, his spokesman said.
“The prime minister obviously welcomes the significant progress made at yesterday’s meetings between the US and Ukraine in Geneva,” his spokesman said, adding “there are some outstanding issues” which will be discussed in “coming days and weeks”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday hailed “important steps” after talks in Geneva with the US, but said more work is needed to negotiate an end to the war with Russia.
Ukrainian, American, and European officials met in Switzerland on Sunday after a US proposal to end Russia’s almost four-year invasion was widely criticised as heeding to Moscow’s demands.
All sides claimed progress in negotiations in Geneva, with a joint statement calling them “constructive.”
