According to U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, European leaders have decided to take united action against Russia due to the lack of agreement on a ceasefire in Ukraine. This decision was reached following negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump.
At the European Political Community (EPC) meeting, which Starmer addressed from Tirana, the capital of Albania, dozens of European country leaders were present, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine.
According to Starmer, “the Russian position is clearly unacceptable,” as discussed in a recent meeting with President Zelenskyy and a subsequent phone chat with President Trump regarding the latest developments in the negotiations.
“Furthermore, we are now closely aligning and coordinating our responses as a result of that meeting with President Zelenskyy, under discussion with President Trump,” he stated.
According to Starmer, Trump was consulted by him and the presidents of France, Germany, and Poland. Although he refrained from specifying the nature of the reaction, a number of European leaders have called for more measures. A fresh round of sanctions could be approved by the EU as early as Tuesday.
Direct peace discussions between Russia and Ukraine have not taken place since the early stages of Moscow’s full-scale invasion, which began on February 24, 2022. According to a Ukrainian source and the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the negotiations that took place in Turkey on Friday lasted less than two hours.
“It is intolerable that Russia has once again failed to address the demands put forth by the United States, with the backing of Ukraine and Europe,” remarked French President Emmanuel Macron. There will be no meeting to make decisions since there will be no ceasefire. And there was silence.
Also, “We will continue to coordinate with our European partners — the coalition of the willing — and the United States,” Macron said. Fresh connections and comments will be arriving in the near future.
According to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, “Russia’s lack of readiness to take the first steps in the right direction now” is the reason why all diplomatic attempts have so far failed.
The European and American sides will work together effectively, according to Merz, therefore they will not give up.
‘The international community needs to take action.’
In his earlier statement, Zelenskyy reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to ending the war. However, he asked European leaders to increase sanctions in the event that Russian President Vladimir Putin prolongs the discussions aimed at obtaining a truce.
This war must stop, and Ukraine is prepared to do all it takes to make that happen, Zelenskyy informed the world. “The world must respond” if it is shown that the Russian delegation is merely theatrical and unable to bring any results today, he said.
He suggested that “sanctions against Russia’s energy sector and banks” be part of the response.
The Russian president erred
Putin’s decision not to attend the Istanbul summit in person prompted Zelenskyy to make his comments.
Storm clouds rolled in as NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte arrived to the meeting amidst a persistent downpour, expressing his belief that Putin had sent an ineffective delegation. At this point, the ball is undeniably in his area of the field. All he can do is play ball. He must mean it when he says he wants peace.
According to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, “President Putin never showed up, and this shows his true belief,” despite President Zelenskyy’s readiness to meet. Therefore, we will step up the pressure.
According to von der Leyen, a fresh round of penalties is being prepared by the European Union. According to her, the steps would be taken against Russia’s shadow fleet, which consists of old cargo ships that the country uses to evade sanctions and the Nord Stream pipeline partnership.
She went on to say that Russia’s banking system will be another target. The latest sanctions package has been in the works for weeks by EU envoys, and they may be enacted as early as Tuesday by the bloc’s foreign ministers.
A agreement on Ukraine must be continued, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said.
I believe… that giving up is not an option. She emphasized the importance of a firm peace deal that ensures Ukraine’s safety and a complete end to hostilities.