EU Leaders Vow Continued Ukraine Support, Tougher Russia Sanctions After Trump-Putin Talks

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the leaders of Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Italy issued a joint statement on 16 August pledging to maintain “ironclad” security guarantees for Ukraine and to keep military, economic and humanitarian assistance flowing to Kyiv. The declaration emphasised that international borders must not be altered by force and that Ukraine alone will decide on any settlement affecting its territory. The statement, released a day after U.S. President Donald Trump briefed European counterparts on his Alaska meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, also warns Moscow that sanctions and broader economic measures will be tightened for as long as the war continues. European leaders said they are ready to work with Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky toward a three-way summit aimed at securing a just and lasting peace.