Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting in The Hague with European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The talks took place against the backdrop of the NATO summit being held in the city on June 24-25.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Key Topics of the Meeting: Defense and Eurointegration
During the discussions, the parties focused on cooperation within the new defense instrument SAFE, as well as on the negotiations regarding Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. Zelensky emphasized the need to reach joint decisions among all member states regarding the opening of the first cluster for eurointegration, stressing that it is unacceptable for one country to block the Union’s initiatives.
“We also discussed in detail additional sanctions against the Russian Federation and the preparation of the 18th EU sanctions package. It is important that this package significantly increases pressure on the Russian energy and banking sectors, as well as the shadow fleet. The key point is that there must be a strong price cap on Russian oil, and we are counting on corresponding decisions,” Zelensky stated.
Integration of Defense Industries and Continued Support
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted that Ukraine and the EU are already integrating their defense industries as if Ukraine were a full-fledged member of the European Union. She emphasized that this benefits not only Kyiv but all of Europe, as Ukraine has become a hub of innovation, and strength is the best guarantee of security.
António Costa highlighted the importance of achieving a just and lasting peace for the Ukrainian people, European security, and global stability. He underscored the need for an immediate cessation of Russian aggression and called on Russia for genuine peace negotiations without preconditions.
Mark Rutte stated that international partners will continue to support Ukraine, regardless of the further development of the situation. He noted that even in the event of peace or a ceasefire, Ukraine will receive military assistance to ensure security and prevent new aggression from Russia. According to Rutte, the total amount of support from Europe and Canada has already reached 35 billion euros by mid-2025.
The NATO summit in The Hague is ongoing on June 24-25, and the issue of Ukraine’s security is one of the central topics on the agenda.