European leaders have issued a warning against altering Ukraine’s borders by force, just days before a summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump regarding Ukraine in Alaska. Their statement emphasized that Ukrainians should have the freedom to determine their future, insisting on the respect for “territorial integrity” and rejecting any changes to international borders by force. Notably absent from the statement’s signatories was Hungary’s leader, Viktor Orban, who has maintained friendly ties with Russia.
This statement highlights European concerns regarding Russia’s actions in Ukraine, feared as potential threats by nations, especially those near Russia or with memories of Soviet occupation. In response to such concerns, Sweden and Finland have joined NATO; Baltic states have reinstated conscription, and Poland is investing heavily in a border barrier with Russia.
There is deep European anxiety over the possibility of the US allowing redrawn borders in Ukraine, as legitimizing Russia’s forceful territorial gains is unacceptable to the EU. Trump has suggested a peace deal proposal involving territorial swaps, allowing Russia to retain parts of eastern Ukraine, including Crimea, but giving up regions like Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
NATO chief Mark Rutte acknowledged potential Russian de facto control over Ukrainian land without formal acknowledgment, which would entail changes to Ukraine’s constitution requiring a challenging national referendum approval.
Analyst Prof Mark Galeotti indicated there is no current discussion on formal international recognition of Russian control, suggesting Ukraine might accept de facto control while maintaining current borders constitutionally. The European leaders’ statement emphasized that Russia’s aggression has broader European and global security implications, advocating for a “just and lasting peace” while pledging continued military support to Ukraine and endorsing its path to EU membership.
Hungary’s refusal to sign the statement was noted, as Orban criticized it for imposing conditions on a non-EU meeting and called for a separate EU-Russia summit, despite the EU avoiding direct talks with Moscow since February 2022.
Trump reportedly sought Orban’s view on Ukraine’s chance of battlefield success, receiving a skeptical response hinting at Russia’s continued aggression. Trump and Putin are set to meet in Alaska, preceded by EU leader discussions with Trump, including UK’s Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stressing that peace must be collaboratively built with Ukraine. These discussions aim to prioritize European and Ukrainian security concerns during these critical diplomatic engagements.