Brussels: Europe and the Arab World

A European statement was issued and distributed Monday evening in Brussels on behalf of ten European heads of state and government, including the German Chancellor, the French President, the Finnish President, and the heads of government of countries such as Italy, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, among others, along with the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council. The statement read: "The leaders welcomed the significant progress made by President Trump in his efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. They also welcomed the close work between the teams of President Zelensky and President Trump, as well as the European teams, over the past days and weeks. They agreed to work with President Trump and President Zelensky to achieve a lasting peace that preserves Ukraine's sovereignty and European security. The leaders appreciated the strong convergence between the United States, Ukraine, and Europe.

The leaders agreed that ensuring Ukraine's security, sovereignty, and prosperity is essential to the broader security of Euro-Atlantic relations. They clearly affirmed that Ukraine and its people deserve a prosperous, independent, and sovereign future, free from the fear of any future Russian aggression.

Both the leaders of the United States and Europe committed to working together to provide Strong security guarantees and measures to support Ukraine’s economic recovery are included in the context of the agreement to end the war. These include commitments to:

Provide sustained and substantial support to Ukraine to build up its armed forces, which should remain at a peacetime level of 800,000 troops to ensure their ability to deter conflict and defend their territory;

Establish a European-led “Multinational Ukrainian Force,” comprised of contributions from willing countries within the framework of a coalition of the willing, and supported by the United States. This force will assist in rebuilding the Ukrainian armed forces, securing its airspace, and supporting maritime security, including through operations within Ukraine;

Establish a U.S.-led, internationally involved ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism to provide early warning of any future attack, identify and respond to any violations, and establish a deconfliction mechanism to facilitate mutually beneficial de-escalation measures;

A legally binding commitment, subject to national procedures, to take measures to restore peace and security in the event of a future armed attack. These measures may include the use of armed force, the provision of intelligence and logistical assistance, and economic measures. Diplomacy and investment in Ukraine's future prosperity, including providing substantial resources for recovery and reconstruction, and concluding mutually beneficial trade agreements, while taking into account the need for Russia to compensate Ukraine for the damages it has suffered. In this context, Russian sovereign assets in the European Union were frozen.

The leaders reaffirmed their strong support for Ukraine's accession to the European Union.

The leaders expressed their support for President Zelensky and agreed to support any decisions he ultimately makes on specific Ukrainian issues. They reiterated that international borders should not be changed by force. Decisions regarding territory belong to the Ukrainian people, provided that strong and effective security guarantees are in place. They agreed that certain issues should be resolved in the final stages of negotiations. They emphasized their support for President Zelensky to consult with his people if necessary.

They clarified that, as with any agreement, nothing is agreed until everything is agreed, and that all parties must work diligently to reach a solution that ensures a permanent end to the fighting.

They clearly emphasized that any agreement must safeguard the long-term security and unity of the European region. The Atlantic Alliance and NATO's role in providing an effective deterrent force were discussed. It was clarified that any provisions affecting the European Union and NATO would be discussed separately among their respective members.

Russia now has an obligation to demonstrate its willingness to work toward a lasting peace by accepting President Trump's peace plan and to prove its commitment to ending the fighting by agreeing to a ceasefire. The leaders agreed to continue pressing Russia to engage in serious negotiations.

All parties committed to working toward rapid progress in the coming days and weeks to reach and endorse a joint agreement for a lasting peace. They reiterated their strong support for President Zelensky and the people of Ukraine in their struggle against Russia's illegal invasion and in achieving a just and lasting peace.