EU diplomacy went into overdrive with four days left before the summit between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Alaska. As the meeting could shape Ukraine's future, European leaders employed every available means to convey their message to the US administration, hoping it would be considered. "We're doing everything we can," said one diplomat. In an effort to present a united front, all heads of state and government in the European Union – except for Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister – published a joint statement on Tuesday morning, August 12.

Although European leaders "welcomed President Trump's work to end Russia's war of aggression", they outlined their priorities for ensuring European security and Ukrainian sovereignty. They stated that genuine peace negotiations could only occur "in the context of a ceasefire or reduction in hostilities," adding that "international borders must not be changed by force."

This joint statement was released amid an intense period of European diplomacy. The next step is a video conference on Wednesday initiated by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. The call will bring together the "coalition of the willing," a group of countries prepared to deploy military resources in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. Also involved are the Polish and Italian prime ministers, the Finnish president, the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, the president of the European Council.

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