A coalition of Ukrainian allies agreed on Saturday to maintain “collective pressure” on Russia to accept President Trump's ceasefire proposal.
Leaders from 26 countries took part in a virtual summit led by British Prime Minister Kielstama as the group plans to move towards the “operational phase” to ensure a ceasefire.
“President Trump has offered Putin the path to lasting peace,” Stage said after a meeting that includes leaders from Europe, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, but not in the United States. “Now we have to make this a reality.”
“Sometimes later Putin will have to come to the table,” he added.
The Union will meet again in the UK on Thursday and submit plans to ensure Ukraine's security in the event that the peace agreement is hampered.
Starme vowed to help the group “help Ukraine secured its land, sea and air” and continued to put pressure on Russia with sanctions.
The Trump administration has long urged European countries to cover the burden of Ukraine's conflict and propose plans for post-war assistance.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with US envoy Steve Witkov on Thursday to discuss the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire that Kiev already supports.
Putin said he supported a ceasefire in principle but had a laundry list with conditions that it must be met before the battle ceases.
In it, he hopes that Ukraine will join NATO, reduce the size of its army and lower its ambitions to hand over the four territories annexed by Russia.
At a press conference on Saturday, Zelensky said the territorial issues are “complicated” and need to be addressed later.
He pressed his allies to give a “clear position” on security assurances, saying that Russia is working to gain a “stronger position” militarily before agreeing to a ceasefire.
Zelensky then told European leaders x“The path to peace must begin unconditionally. If Russia does not want this, it will need to be subject to strong pressure until they do.”
“The ceasefire may have already happened, but Russia is doing everything to prevent it,” he added.
Trump expressed optimism on Friday after Steve Witkov held a productive ceasefire talks in Moscow the day before, saying the war could eventually come to an end.
Meanwhile, Ukraine and Russia attacked air attacks all night on Saturday, replacing hundreds of drones that caused major damage on both territories.
Authorities say Russia attacked Ukrainian energy facilities and knocked out electricity from residents of two cities.
The fall of drone fragments in southwestern Russia sparked a fire near an oil refinery, and a nearby airport temporarily stopped flights, according to reports.
With post wire
