Poland, European allies say Ukraine must be present at peace talks with Russia
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk, five other European leaders and the EC president have said in their joint statement that the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Kyiv.
Apart from Tusk, the document, published on Saturday, was also signed by the Prime Ministers of Italy Giorgia Meloni, Great Britain - Keir Starmer and Finland - Alexander Stubb, as well as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and EC President Ursula von der Leyen.
The leaders said in the statement that "they remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force," and that negotiations could only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities.
They welcomed President Trump’s work "to stop the killing in Ukraine, end the Russian Federation’s war of aggression, and achieve just and lasting peace and security for Ukraine."
They also said they were convinced that only an approach that combines active diplomacy, support to Ukraine and pressure on the Russian Federation to end their illegal war could succeed, and declared their readiness to support this work diplomatically "as well as by upholding our substantive military and financial support to Ukraine."
The document was published a day after the US president had announced that he would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15.(PAP)
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