The declaration, signed by\u00a026\u00a0of\u00a0the 27\u00a0EU\u00a0heads of\u00a0state and government, stresses that any path to\u00a0peace \u201ccannot be\u00a0decided without Ukraine\u201d and that a\u00a0durable settlement must \u201crespect international law, including the principles of\u00a0independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and that international borders must not be\u00a0changed by\u00a0force.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Trump, Putin, and Zelenskyy Intensify High-Stakes Diplomacy Over Ceasefire Talks. Here\u2019s What We Know<\/a><\/p>\n
\n Aug 07, 2025 16:25\n <\/p>\n
The move was timed to\u00a0influence a\u00a0high-stakes, off-site meeting in\u00a0Alaska on\u00a0Friday, where Trump and Putin are expected to\u00a0discuss options for ending the war in\u00a0Ukraine, including, according to\u00a0the US\u00a0President, potential \u201cland swapping.\u201d<\/p>\n
European capitals and Kyiv have expressed concern that a\u00a0bilateral US\u2013Russia exchange could define the outlines of\u00a0a\u00a0settlement without meaningful input from Ukraine or\u00a0the European Union.<\/p>\n
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly rejected<\/a> the notion that Ukraine should be\u00a0forced to\u00a0cede territory to\u00a0secure a\u00a0ceasefire; many EU\u00a0leaders echoed this view in\u00a0their joint statement.<\/p>\n
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n refused to\u00a0sign the EU\u00a0statement and criticized his colleagues for pre-emptively setting conditions for a\u00a0summit to\u00a0which Europe was not invited. In\u00a0a\u00a0post on\u00a0X, Orb\u00e1n said the bloc should not issue directions \u201cfrom the bench.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Just four days ahead of the historic summit between President Trump and President Putin, the European Council sought to issue a statement in the name of all EU heads of state and government.<\/p>\n
Before the liberal-mainstream chorus begins its newest rendition of their favourite\u2026<\/p>\n
\u2014 Orb\u00e1n Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) August 12, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\u201cThe fact that the EU\u00a0was left on\u00a0the sidelines is\u00a0sad enough as\u00a0it\u00a0is. The only thing that could make things worse is\u00a0if\u00a0we\u00a0started providing instructions from the bench,\u201d he\u00a0wrote.<\/p>\n
Rather than criticizing the US\u2013Russia meeting, Orb\u00e1n urged EU\u00a0leaders to\u00a0organize their own summit: \u201cThe only sensible action for EU\u00a0leaders is\u00a0to\u00a0initiate an\u00a0EU-Russia summit, based on\u00a0the example of\u00a0the US-Russia meeting.\u201d<\/p>\n
European leaders have planned further engagement ahead of\u00a0Alaska. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is\u00a0convening virtual discussions aimed at\u00a0aligning EU\u00a0and US\u00a0approaches; officials said the purpose is\u00a0to\u00a0make sure any diplomatic push toward a\u00a0ceasefire protects Ukraine\u2019s security and includes Kyiv at\u00a0the table.<\/p>\n
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