On 12 August, 26 European leaders have reaffirmed Ukraine’s right to self-determination, with Moscow’s ally Hungary standing alone in its dissent. This collective stance comes as US President Trump prepares to meet Russian leader Putin in Alaska later this week, raising concerns over potential pressures on Ukraine to make territorial concessions to Russia, the aggressor state.

Before the upcoming Trump-Putin meeting, the European leaders’ statement emphasized that “the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine.“

European Union’s statement on Ukraine’s sovereignty

The European Union leaders issued the statement emphasizing Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity amidst the ongoing Russian invasion.

“We, the leaders of the European Union, welcome the efforts of President Trump towards ending Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and achieving a just and lasting peace and security for Ukraine,” the statement reads.

It underscored the importance of Ukraine’s freedom to decide its future, a principle that has garnered overwhelming support among EU nations.

The declaration from the European Council highlighted that “a just and lasting peace that brings stability and security must respect international law, including the principles of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and that international borders must not be changed by force.”

This sentiment was echoed throughout the statement, emphasizing that “the people of Ukraine must have the freedom to decide their future.”

“Hungary does not associate itself with this Statement,” a final note in the statement reads.