Скачать или смотреть “Europe Stands with Ukraine”—Von der Leyen and Zelensky Defy Kremlin Pressure

EU and Ukraine Demand Strong Security Guarantees Amid Putin's Donbas Ultimatum—Von der Leyen and Zelensky Push Back Against Russian Pressure

In Brussels, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a united front before high-stakes talks with US President Trump, adamantly rejecting Russian demands that Ukraine surrender all of Donbas in exchange for a ceasefire. As the Financial Times first revealed, Vladimir Putin is pressing for full control of occupied eastern regions, a demand confirmed by Reuters—even as Ukrainian forces still hold 30 percent of Donetsk. Speaking to reporters, von der Leyen stressed, “International borders cannot be changed by force. These decisions must be made by Ukraine, and Ukraine alone.” Zelensky echoed the message, declaring there can be “no division between Ukraine and Moldova, and no peace dictated at gunpoint.”
Both leaders called for urgent, trilateral Ukraine–US–Russia negotiations focused on “stopping the killing” and insisted that any settlement must include robust Article 5-style security guarantees backed by both the EU and US. With new EU sanctions on the way, they promised Europe would maintain maximum diplomatic and economic pressure until Moscow chooses real peace—not territorial blackmail.

Subscribe to Europe Pulse