European leaders urge Russia towards peace in Ukraine talks
The foreign ministers of the so-called Big Five—namely France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain—as well as the diplomatic leaders of the United Kingdom and the EU, in a joint statement on Monday, assessed that so far Russia has not shown a willingness to make progress on peace efforts in Ukraine.
What you need to know
- Meeting in London: The foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the EU met in London to discuss the situation in Ukraine.
- Lack of progress from Russia: The statement stressed that Russia has not yet shown a willingness to make progress on peace efforts in Ukraine.
- Support for Ukraine: The diplomatic leaders expressed their support for Ukraine, calling for an immediate ceasefire and backing for the Ukrainian armed forces.
Expectations for Russia
Politicians in London discussed Russian aggression towards Ukraine and Euro-Atlantic security, according to a statement published on the British government's website after the talks.
"We welcomed US-led peace efforts and the prospect of further talks this week. So far, Russia has not shown any serious intent to make progress. It must do so without delay," the statement said.
"We joined Ukraine in calling for an immediate, full, unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create space for talks on a just, comprehensive and lasting peace," the foreign ministers emphasized.
Planned actions by European diplomats
It was noted that the discussions focused on "how we would further step up European efforts to support Ukraine in its ongoing defence against Russia’s war of aggression."
"Ukraine should be confident in its ability to continue to resist successfully Russian aggression with our support," the foreign ministers stated.
"We agreed to work with Ukraine on initiatives to strengthen Ukraine’s armed forces, restock munitions and equipment, and further enhance industrial capacity," the statement said after the talks.
