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
