E3 Leaders Back Ukraine in London
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz — collectively known as the E3 group — convened with Zelenskyy to reaffirm their "unwavering support for Ukraine" and map out "the next steps in negotiations to support a just and lasting peace."
In a joint statement issued following the talks, the E3 leaders stressed that Europe had a critical and indispensable role to play in any eventual settlement as a steadfast backer of Kyiv.
"Leaders were clear that all efforts should be conducted in closest cooperation with Ukraine, wider European partners, and the US," the statement read.
The leaders jointly condemned Russia's large-scale missile and drone campaign against Ukrainian cities, and further denounced what they characterized as "irresponsible and dangerous" Russian drone incursions into NATO territory.
The joint communiqué outlined how the leaders intend to leverage three upcoming summits — the G7 summit in France, the next meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, and the NATO summit in Ankara — to sharpen and coordinate further support for Ukraine based on its most pressing battlefield needs.
"The leaders underlined the urgent need to scale up the production of interceptors and co-develop anti-ballistic missile and deep strike capabilities, and to support the future sustainability of the Ukrainian Armed Forces," the statement added.
The talks also addressed how the alliance could harness "Ukraine's battlefield expertise" and deepen long-term industrial cooperation with Kyiv to bolster Europe's own defense posture — framing Ukraine not merely as a recipient of aid, but as an active contributor to continental security architecture.
'Inextricable Link' Between Euro-Atlantic Security and Ukraine's Sovereignty
The statement emphasized the "inextricable link" binding Ukraine's security, prosperity, and sovereignty to the broader framework of Euro-Atlantic security — a formulation designed to underscore that any weakening of Ukraine would reverberate across the entire alliance.
On the path to peace, the leaders outlined the conditions they deemed essential for a just and durable settlement, identifying as a critical first step an immediate halt to hostilities.
"They called on (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin to agree to an immediate and complete ceasefire."
The statement further insisted that Ukraine must be guaranteed "robust and legally binding security guarantees" once any ceasefire enters into force — building on commitments previously enshrined in Berlin in December 2025 and Paris in January 2026, including provisions for the deployment of a Multinational Force.
On the question of accountability, the leaders made clear that frozen Russian assets would remain immobilized until Moscow ends its war and fully compensates Ukraine for the destruction it has wrought.
"European security interests must be safeguarded in any deal," the statement noted pointedly, adding that any negotiated elements touching on the European Union or NATO would require the explicit consent of EU member states and NATO allies respectively — drawing a firm boundary around what Europe would and would not permit to be bargained away.
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