The boundaries of Ukraine do not have to change by force, say EU leaders

European leaders have warned that the boundaries of Ukrainian borders were diverted by force or two days before the US-Russia summit for Ukraine was held in Alaska.

In a statement, European leaders said that “the people of Ukraine should have the freedom to decide their future.”

It added the principles of “territorial integrity” must be respected and “international borders should not be changed by force”.

The statement was signed by 26 of 27 leaders. Missing from the signators of Hungary Victor Orban, who maintains friendly relations with Russia and has repeatedly tried to block EU support for Ukraine.

The statement emphasizes the nervousness tested by Europeans about Moscow’s actions in Ukraine, which many countries – especially those bordering on Russia, or those in which the memory of Soviet occupation is still detained – they believe it can pose a direct threat in the near future.

In recent years, Sweden and Finland have joined NATO, the Baltic countries have restored a summons, and Poland has set aside billions to build a barrier with its border with Russia.

European countries have a long history of boundaries that are redirected by bloody wars and are extremely concerned about the US perspective that allow this to happen in Ukraine. The legal recognition of Russia’s sovereignty over the territories it has conquered by force is unacceptable to the EU.

However, the notion that some Ukrainian regions, which are currently under Russian control, may not return to Kiev is gaining position.

US President Donald Trump insisted that any peaceful deal will include a “territory exchange” and can see Russia take the whole Donbass region in Eastern Ukraine and maintain Crimea. In return, he will abandon the regions of Kherson and the attachment, which he partially occupies.

Last week, while admitting that some Ukrainian territory may be actually controlled by Russia, NATO Chief Mark Rute stressed that this should not be officially recognized.

In their statement, European leaders said that “the war on aggression against Ukraine has wider consequences for European and international security” and emphasized the need for “fair and lasting peace”.

They also stated that Ukraine should be able to “defend itself” effectively and promise to continue to provide military support to Kiev, which “exercises its inherent right to self -defense.”

“The European Union emphasizes Ukraine’s inherent right to choose its own fate and will continue to support Ukraine on its way to EU membership,” the statement concludes.

The lifting of the visible unity of the declaration was a smaller seal at the bottom of the page, indicating that “Hungary is not associated with this statement.”

In a social media publication, his leader Viktor Orban said he had abandoned the support of the statement as he was trying to determine conditions for a meeting that the EU was not invited to and warned the leaders not to “provide instructions from the bench.”

He also called on the EU to set up its own summit with Russia – although EU leaders were repelling direct conversations with Moscow, as it began its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

On Monday, Trump revealed that he had sought Orban’s advice on Ukraine’s chances of winning Russia on the battlefield. “He looked at me as” what a stupid question, “Trump said, suggesting that Orban thought Russia would continue to wage war until he defeated his opponent.

EU leaders must have talks with Trump on Wednesday. They will hope to put the security of the European continent and the Ukrainian interests in the foreground in his mind – at a time when nervousness increases that the peace imposed on Ukraine can be neither “simple” nor “lasting”.

Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are expected to meet in Alaska on Friday.