European leaders said the EU must be directly involved in shaping Ukraine’s future, after talks in Washington with U.S. and Ukrainian officials. EU leaders highlighted progress on security guarantees, sanctions, and the return of Ukrainian children, with European Council President Antonio Costa reaffirming Ukraine as a top priority.
The UK noted plans for tougher sanctions on Russia and possible security measures if the war ends, while Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico argued Ukraine cannot join NATO and that territorial changes must be discussed.
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed cautious optimism, saying the next weeks will show if Russia is serious about peace. He suggested Europe could commit troops for security guarantees, while the U.S. would provide other support. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow is open to bilateral or trilateral talks.
Credit: CGTN