European Leaders Agree with President Donald Trump on Ukraine Ceasefire Talks

European Leaders Agree with President Donald Trump on Ukraine Ceasefire Talks
[Albania, May 16, 2025] – AP Report

European leaders have aligned with U.S. President Donald Trump in asserting that Russia’s stance on ceasefire negotiations with Ukraine is unacceptable, and they have decided to develop a coordinated response, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Friday.

Starmer made these remarks from Tirana, the capital of Albania, where leaders from dozens of European countries gathered for the European Political Community (EPC) summit, held in the presence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

He said, “We just had a meeting with President Zelensky, followed by a phone call with President Trump. We discussed the latest developments, and it is clear that Russia’s position is entirely unacceptable.”

“Based on our meeting with Zelensky and the discussion with Trump, we are now closely coordinating and will continue to do so,” Starmer added.

He also stated that the leaders of France, Germany, and Poland share agreement with Trump on this course of action.

Peace Talks in Turkey Fail

Russia and Ukraine held their first direct peace talks on Friday in Turkey since the full-scale Russian invasion began in February 2022. However, the talks broke down in under two hours. According to Turkey’s foreign ministry and a Ukrainian official, the Kremlin introduced a new “unacceptable demand” that Ukrainian forces withdraw from large areas.

The Ukrainian official, who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity due to a lack of authorization to speak publicly, confirmed the development.

Earlier, Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s commitment to ending the war but urged European leaders to impose tougher sanctions if Russian President Vladimir Putin was merely trying to buy time.

“Ukraine is ready to take all realistic steps to end the war,” said Zelensky. However, he warned, “If it becomes evident that the Russian representatives are just performing theatrics and bringing no real outcomes, then the world must respond.”

That response, he added, should include sanctions on Russia’s energy sector and financial institutions.

Backing Zelensky’s call, Starmer said, “Russia is stalling and playing games. We must be prepared to respond, because if Russia refuses to engage in talks, then Putin must pay the price.”

Criticism Over Putin’s Absence

European leaders criticized President Putin for not attending the talks in person. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said, “I think Putin made a mistake by sending a low-level delegation. The ball is now in his court. He must show he’s serious about wanting peace by coming to the table.”

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas added, “Putin is playing games, which means they are not serious about peace.”