Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on 10 August that ending the war against Ukraine must be honest and serve the security interests of European nations.
"The end of the war must be fair, and I am grateful to all those who are now with Ukraine, with our people for the sake of peace in Ukraine, which defends the vital security interests of our European peoples," Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian leader emphasized his country's support for a joint declaration by major European leaders regarding peace for Ukraine. The statement was issued by French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
The European leaders' declaration preceded Zelenskyy's remarks, calling on US President Donald Trump to conduct negotiations with Russian leader Vladimir Putin only under specific conditions. The European officials demanded a ceasefire and guarantees protecting "vital security interests of Ukraine and Europe" as prerequisites for any peace talks.
The timing of Zelenskyy's statement coincides with ongoing diplomatic efforts to establish parameters for potential negotiations. The Ukrainian president's emphasis on fairness reflects his administration's position that any settlement must address European security concerns beyond Ukraine's borders.
