Statement on Ukrainian sovereignty endorsed by all European Union leaders except for Hungary’s Viktor Orbán

 

 

Ahead of the crucial Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, nearly all European leaders have declared that Ukrainians must be allowed to determine their own future. This declaration comes as tensions rise over potential outcomes of the meeting, which could see significant decisions made about Ukraine without its participation.

In their joint statement, European leaders emphasised that any meaningful negotiations require a ceasefire or reduction in hostilities. They stressed the importance of a diplomatic solution that safeguards both Ukraine's and Europe's security interests.

 

Issued on Tuesday, the statement gained unanimous support from EU countries except Hungary. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a known ally of Putin, was the only dissenting voice, highlighting his previous attempts to block EU support for Ukraine.

Europeans are striving to exert influence over the summit, wary of being sidelined. Trump has confirmed that the discussions with Putin will involve "land swapping," raising concerns about potential concessions.

 

With Putin having instigated the largest land war in Europe since 1945, Europeans and Ukrainians fear he might secure favourable terms that reshape the region’s landscape without their input. The statement from EU leaders is a symbol of unity, despite Hungary's reluctance.

The leaders also applauded Trump's efforts to end Russia’s aggression but reiterated that a durable peace must involve Ukraine. They insisted any agreement must respect Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international law principles.

 

President Zelenskyy has been firm in rejecting the idea of ceding territory to achieve peace. Currently, Russia maintains unstable control over parts of four Ukrainian regions.Trump, known for his confidence in deal-making, tempered expectations for immediate breakthroughs but indicated a willingness to engage in “constructive conversations” with Putin. He suggested various outcomes based on the talks' direction, expressing openness to report outcomes to European and NATO leaders, as well as President Zelenskyy.

 

On Monday, Trump expressed criticism of Zelenskyy, noting his leadership span during the conflict and implying a lack of progress. This remark adds tension to the discussions, with European leaders eager to ensure continued support for Ukraine.

In a further effort to rally support, European leaders will engage in virtual meetings led by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. While Trump’s participation in these talks is unconfirmed, he has stated intentions to gather diverse opinions before his meeting with Putin.

 

This diplomatic effort underscores the EU's commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty while highlighting internal divisions on the issue. The ongoing situation remains a complex challenge for international diplomacy, with all eyes on the upcoming summit’s potential ramifications for Ukraine and Europe.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Guardian 2025-08-12

 

He's got no choice. Donbas is in real trouble with encirclement of several cities and a collapse in the main defence line where Russian troops moved through in a large movement yesterday (15-19 km infantry only breakthrough) Crimea is gone. Putin has the upper hand. 

Unless they are willing to back it up by initiating WWIII, the EU is doing nothing more than posturing for the press. 

More hot air from the pathetic EU.

 

All mouth and no trousers. 

America fails again in trying to make Ukraine its proxy state

To paraphrase Eli Wallach in the Magnificent Seven ‘what happens to these people (Ukrainians) will happen to them whether you (EU) are here or not.  

8 hours ago, dinsdale said:

He's got no choice. Donbas is in real trouble with encirclement of several cities and a collapse in the main defence line where Russian troops moved through in a large movement yesterday (15-19 km infantry only breakthrough) Crimea is gone. Putin has the upper hand. 

Much the same for 3 years Dinsy, are you on Putin's payroll...?  😒

23 minutes ago, transam said:

Much the same for 3 years Dinsy, are you on Putin's payroll...?  😒

No. Simply not the case. 2023 counter offensive pushed the Russians back a lot. The Russians stabalized their lines but in 2024 the push west started in an attrititional warfare way. Right now there are major cities in Donbas in big trouble and the Donbas Oblast as a whole is now threatened. The Ukrainian Army has been stretched thin due to the attritional nature of the ground war and the Russian troops continue to capture ground. Apart from that 3 years ago it was a different war in terms of weaponry. Tanks could be used back then. Not much anymore now that drones are being used. 

Just now, dinsdale said:

No. Simply not the case. 2023 counter offensive pushed the Russians back a lot. The Russians stabalized their lines but in 2024 the push west started in an attrititional warfare way. Right now there are major cities in Donbas in big trouble and the Donbas Oblast as a whole is now threatened. The Ukrainian Army has been stretched thin due to the attritional nature of the ground war and the Russian troops continue to capture ground. Apart from that 3 years ago it was a different war in terms of weaponry. Tanks could be used back then. Not much anymore now that drones are being used. 

😂......If you say so..........🤥................😂

10 hours ago, CharlieH said:

that Ukrainians must be allowed to determine their own future.

Lovely words.

"Must be allowed"...

And what will happen....if not?

1 hour ago, malibukid said:

America fails again in trying to make Ukraine its proxy state

That would be the EU not the USA.

Does anybody remember the "Peace" Conference in Munich 1938 where Hitler obtained annexation of Sudetenland the German speaking part of Czechoslovakia and British Prime Minister Chamberlain returned to London pretending that permanent "peace" had been achieved? Also here Czechoslovakia had no input....

2 hours ago, dinsdale said:

That would be the EU not the USA.

 

If Ukraine were to join the EU it would be a member - not proxy - state.

2 hours ago, RayC said:

 

If Ukraine were to join the EU it would be a member - not proxy - state.

Russia will not allow it for good reason.

48 minutes ago, AustinRacing said:

Russia will not allow it for good reason.

 

And what good reason is that?

 

Don't believe that a sovereign nation should be allowed to make its' own choices about who it aligns with economically?

Trumps just a Bully and Putins lap dog. He still thinks he can sit and have a heart to heart with Putin the silent Assasin.

19 minutes ago, RayC said:

 

And what good reason is that?

 

Don't believe that a sovereign nation should be allowed to make its' own choices about who it aligns with economically?

What’s economical alignment got to do with joining NATO. Surely USA won’t allow Russian or Chinese setting up military bases in Canada or Mexico. Right? We saw that with Cuban missile crisis in the 60’s. 

5 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

Trumps just a Bully and Putins lap dog. He still thinks he can sit and have a heart to heart with Putin the silent Assasin.

He is compromised therefore any decision regarding a foreign matter will require his sponsors’ or blackmailers’s approval. Putin knows this. This makes him a nobody in his eyes. 

4 hours ago, RayC said:

 

If Ukraine were to join the EU it would be a member - not proxy - state.

But do we actually want Ukraine in the EU ?  Or, does Britain want Ukraine in the EU ?  Maybe Ukraine wants to be in the EU, but I'm not sure if Germany and France want Ukraine in the EU. I don't think Hungary wants Ukraine in the EU. 

What about Turkey ?  Surely, Turkey will feel it's totally wrong about Ukraine being on the EU before Turkey joins. And Ukraine should be careful about joining the EU. Britain is trying to get out of the EU, but it's not actually easy trying to get out of the EU. Once you're in the EU, getting out of it is not easy. Ukraine should fully realise this. I'm not saying that Britain leaving the EU is a good thing, I'm only trying to say that, once you're in, it's not easy to get out. 

A bit like getting married, divorce can be far more difficult than what you think it is.

18 hours ago, AustinRacing said:

What’s economical alignment got to do with joining NATO. Surely USA won’t allow Russian or Chinese setting up military bases in Canada or Mexico. Right? We saw that with Cuban missile crisis in the 60’s. 

 

I was replying to a comment about Ukraine's potential status in the EU, not NATO, so economics is very much part of that conversation.

 

The NATO/ Ukraine situation is completely different to the Cuba/ US incident. There are no permanent military military bases in mainland Ukraine and there was never the prospect of them appearing until Putin launched his invasion.

 

Ukraine abandoned its' goal of NATO membership in 2010 when it reaffirmed its' neutral status. Ukraine did not re-apply for NATO membership until September 2022 which followed the Russian invasion.

17 hours ago, tonbridgebrit said:

But do we actually want Ukraine in the EU ?  Or, does Britain want Ukraine in the EU ?  Maybe Ukraine wants to be in the EU, but I'm not sure if Germany and France want Ukraine in the EU. I don't think Hungary wants Ukraine in the EU. 

What about Turkey ?  Surely, Turkey will feel it's totally wrong about Ukraine being on the EU before Turkey joins. And Ukraine should be careful about joining the EU. Britain is trying to get out of the EU, but it's not actually easy trying to get out of the EU. Once you're in the EU, getting out of it is not easy. Ukraine should fully realise this. I'm not saying that Britain leaving the EU is a good thing, I'm only trying to say that, once you're in, it's not easy to get out. 

A bit like getting married, divorce can be far more difficult than what you think it is.

 

Excellent questions and imo worthy of their own thread.

 

However, I was simply pointing out that the contention that Ukraine would become a proxy state of the EU were it to become an EU member is flawed. Firstly, the EU is not a state, so the contention is incorrect by definition. Secondly, all EU member states have the same rights and obligations.

On 8/13/2025 at 2:32 AM, malibukid said:

America fails again in trying to make Ukraine its proxy state

I'm so glad you'll never be coming to America. The term "Euro-trash" comes to mind. Banking hard that the greatest country in the world would fail is tantamount to treason. 🤠

With all the trillions of $ handed to Ukraine by the USA, can Ukraine really be the the only one to decide ? 

 

Yes, the Russians are no better for sure, but they have not been fed on western nation's money for free since the war begain. 

14 minutes ago, Middle Aged Grouch said:

With all the trillions of $ handed to Ukraine by the USA, can Ukraine really be the the only one to decide ? 

 

Yes, the Russians are no better for sure, but they have not been fed on western nation's money for free since the war begain. 

Trillions?

Sounds like you're a graduate of Trump Math University.

16 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Trillions?

Sounds like you're a graduate of Trump Math University.

Billions, millions or trillions, I am sure the more sensible,  got the point. Bye-bye. 

 

 

46 minutes ago, RayC said:

 

I was replying to a comment about Ukraine's potential status in the EU, not NATO, so economics is very much part of that conversation.

 

The NATO/ Ukraine situation is completely different to the Cuba/ US incident. There are no permanent military military bases in mainland Ukraine and there was never the prospect of them appearing until Putin launched his invasion.

 

Ukraine abandoned its' goal of NATO membership in 2010 when it reaffirmed its' neutral status. Ukraine did not re-apply for NATO membership until September 2022 which followed the Russian invasion.

You need to read more. There are lots of cia/mi6 cells operating in Ukraine. It’s all about NATO which is a military alliance. 

49 minutes ago, RayC said:

 

Excellent questions and imo worthy of their own thread.

 

However, I was simply pointing out that the contention that Ukraine would become a proxy state of the EU were it to become an EU member is flawed. Firstly, the EU is not a state, so the contention is incorrect by definition. Secondly, all EU member states have the same rights and obligations.

However as the UK is not a member of the EU anymore it is not really anything to do with them.

 

NATO is a different matter and that will be more to do with Trump than the USA.

21 hours ago, AustinRacing said:

Russia will not allow it for good reason.

 

NATO.

Not EU.

On 8/13/2025 at 6:07 AM, CharlieH said:

Ahead of the crucial Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, nearly all European leaders have declared that Ukrainians must be allowed to determine their own future.

 

About time they recognized the referendums held in Crimea and the four oblasts.

 

So now they recognize democracy, but will they extend that when the citizens of Odessa vote to secede?

3 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

About time they recognized the referendums held in Crimea and the four oblasts.

 

So now they recognize democracy, but will they extend that when the citizens of Odessa vote to secede?

All were illegally run.