Russia must show a real will to end the war in Ukraine – EU leaders

Russia must show a real willingness to end the war, 26 EU leaders have stated. The conclusions of the EU summit state that Russia must show a real will to end the war it has unleashed against Ukraine.

Hungary refused to sign the conclusions of the EU summit regarding Ukraine. For this reason, the EU Council published a separate document on Ukraine, which garnered support from 26 member states.

The conclusions welcome the joint statement by Ukraine and the US following their meeting in Saudi Arabia, which outlines proposals for a ceasefire with Russia.

“The European Council welcomes the joint statement by Ukraine and the United States following their meeting in Saudi Arabia on 11 March 2025, including the proposals for a ceasefire agreement, humanitarian efforts, and the resumption of US intelligence sharing and security assistance. The European Council calls on Russia to show real political will to end the war,” the EU statement said.

The leaders of the 26 EU countries emphasize that the path to peace should include humanitarian aid efforts, the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilians, and the return of all abducted Ukrainian children.

The EU expressed its readiness to increase pressure on Russia, including by imposing additional sanctions and strengthening enforcement of existing measures.

The frozen Rosatom assets should remain so until Russia ends its war against Ukraine and compensates for the damage it has caused, the conclusions state.The EU has expressed its readiness to facilitate the peace process and help secure “a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, in the interests of both Ukraine and Europe as a whole.”

The conclusions state that the EU is ready to provide Ukraine with regular financial and military support. It also emphasizes the need to bring those responsible for war crimes to justice and recognizes the importance of the process of establishing a special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

“Recalling its previous conclusions, the European Council reaffirms its continued and unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. The European Union maintains its ‘peace through strength’ approach, which requires Ukraine to be in the strongest possible position, with its own robust military and defence capabilities as an essential component,” the 26 EU leaders stated.

In addition, at a meeting of the European Council on March 20, several EU leaders called for accelerating the negotiation process on Ukraine’s accession.