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European Leaders and Zelenskyy Back Using Current Front Line as Basis for Peace Talks
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the current front line should serve as a starting point for potential peace talks with Russia, according to a joint statement released by the UK government on October 21.
“We strongly support President Trump’s position that the fighting should stop immediately, and that the current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations. We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force,” the statement reads.
The declaration, signed by Zelenskyy, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Portuguese President António Costa, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, emphasized unity in seeking “a just and lasting peace” for Ukraine.
“Russia’s stalling tactics have shown time and time again that Ukraine is the only party serious about peace. We can all see that Putin continues to choose violence and destruction,” the leaders said.
The statement also underscored the need to strengthen Ukraine before, during, and after any ceasefire, and pledged to increase pressure on Russia’s economy and defense industry. It confirmed that new measures are being developed “to use the full value of Russia’s immobilized sovereign assets so that Ukraine has the resources it needs.”
European and coalition leaders plan to meet later this week to coordinate next steps in supporting Ukraine and shaping potential peace efforts.
Earlier, Tusk urged Western nations to direct their pressure toward Russia, rather than Ukraine, as the path to ending the war and compelling Vladimir Putin to seek peace.
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