The statement, published on the UK government’s website, was signed by French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Finnish President Sauli Niinistö.“We welcome President Trump’s efforts aimed at ending the killings in Ukraine, stopping Russia’s aggressive war, and achieving a just and lasting peace and security for Ukraine,” the statement reads.European leaders expressed their belief that only an approach combining active diplomacy, support for Ukraine, and pressure on Russia can succeed. The joint statement also highlighted Europe’s readiness to back these efforts through diplomatic means as well as by maintaining substantial military and financial support for Ukraine—especially through the Coalition of Willing—and by preserving and implementing sanctions against Russia.“We share the conviction that any diplomatic settlement must safeguard the vital security interests of Ukraine and Europe. We agree that these vital interests include the need for reliable and robust security guarantees enabling Ukraine to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Ukraine has the right to freely choose its own destiny,” the European leaders added. They stressed that negotiations with Russia can only take place “under conditions of a ceasefire or significant reduction in hostilities.”“The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be determined without Ukraine. We remain committed to the principle that international borders cannot be changed by force. The current line of contact must be the starting point for negotiations,” the document concludes.Background:On Wednesday, August 6, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow and met with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. Their talks lasted about three hours. According to the White House, the negotiations were productive.On August 8, Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. and Russian officials were exploring deal options that could end the war but would allow Russia to retain control over occupied Ukrainian territories.That same day, President Trump stated that a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine would involve some territorial exchanges. Later, the U.S. president announced he would meet with Putin in Alaska on Friday, August 15.Axios reported that before the Trump-Putin meeting, senior officials from the U.S., Ukraine, and European countries would hold talks in the UK to coordinate a joint position.Media also reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy might join the meeting between Trump and Putin scheduled for August 15.On August 9, Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine would not make territorial concessions to Russia and confirmed his readiness to work toward a just peace.