European countries pledge security guarantees for Ukraine

Both the U.S. and European leaders were committed to working together to provide robust security guarantees and economic recovery support for Ukraine in the context of an agreement on ending the nearly four-year war, according to a joint statement released on Monday.

The statement was signed by leaders of Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the European Union after two days of talks regarding a peace plan for ending the Ukrainian crisis in Berlin, Germany.

According to the statement, the leaders agreed that ensuring the security, sovereignty, and prosperity of Ukraine was integral for wider Euro-Atlantic security.

The Berlin agreement pledged sustained support to build Ukraine's armed forces at a peacetime level of 800,000.

A European-led "multinational force Ukraine" made up of willing nations within the framework of the Coalition of the Willing will be established to help regenerate Ukraine's military, secure its skies, and support safer seas, including through operating inside Ukraine.

The leaders agreed to set up a U.S.-led ceasefire monitoring mechanism with international participation to verify compliance and provide early warnings of future attacks.

They strongly support Ukraine's accession to the European Union and expressed their support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and agreed to support whatever decisions he ultimately makes on specific Ukrainian issues.

Decisions on territory remain for the people of Ukraine once security guarantees are in place, the leaders said.

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday that he had "very long and very good talks" with European leaders, saying that an agreement to end Russia's war on Ukraine is "closer than ever". Zelenskyy on Monday said that negotiations with U.S. and European leaders were difficult but productive and he will continue to strive to end the war through diplomatic channels.

The high-level discussions, involving Zelenskyy, a U.S. delegation led by Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and European leaders, took place in Berlin on Sunday and Monday.

European countries pledge security guarantees for Ukraine

European countries pledge security guarantees for Ukraine

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Saturday strongly condemned an Israeli attack on a Lebanese Army patrol that killed two officers and one soldier.

Condemning the attack on the Khardali-Nabatieh road earlier in the day as a flagrant violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and international laws and norms, Aoun said in a statement that the strike was part of Israel's ongoing escalation, which threatens stability and security in southern Lebanon, despite Beirut's efforts in Washington negotiations to end the ongoing Israeli attacks.

Aoun said the fallen servicemen had joined a long list of military and civilian victims, including children, women, paramedics, rescue workers, and journalists killed in Israeli attacks.

He extended his condolences to the Lebanese Army command and the families of the victims, praising the sacrifices of the officers, soldiers, and other military personnel who had given their lives in defense of the country and its sovereignty.

He stressed that Lebanon would not waver in protecting its land and people. Such attacks, he added, would not deter the country from upholding its full national rights.

Aoun also called on the international community to assume its responsibilities, put an end to the repeated attacks, and ensure respect for relevant international resolutions to preserve Lebanon's security and stability.

On the same day, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement confirming the attack and said it had launched an investigation into the incident.

According to the statement, the IDF spotted a vehicle "moving suspiciously" across an "active combat zone" in the Tebnit area of southern Lebanon on Saturday.

The IDF said it had previously received intelligence indicating that Hezbollah militants would open fire on Israeli troops from that area. Citing this intelligence and asserting that the vehicle posed a "threat to Israeli soldiers", the military carried out the strike.

Lebanese president slams Israeli attack killing 3 servicemen