Brussels, Oct. 21 (LaPresse) – “Russia’s delaying tactics have repeatedly shown that Ukraine is the only party that takes peace seriously. We can all see that Putin continues to choose violence and destruction. Therefore, it is clear that Ukraine must be in the strongest possible position before, during, and after any ceasefire. We must increase pressure on the Russian economy and its defense industry until Putin is ready to make peace. We are developing measures to use the full value of Russia’s immobilized sovereign assets so that Ukraine has the resources it needs.”
This is written in a joint statement on peace in Ukraine by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
“The leaders will meet later this week at the European Council and in the format of the Coalition of the Willing to discuss how to advance this work and further support Ukraine,” the statement said.