European leaders have said intensive work will continue in the coming days on a US-led plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war, after a joint phone call with President Donald Trump.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said they agreed that this was a critical moment - for Ukraine, its people and for shared security across the Euro-Atlantic region.
Trump later said we discussed Ukraine in pretty strong words, admitting that there were some little disputes about people.
The joint call comes the day after Trump called European leaders weak, suggesting the US could scale back support for Ukraine.
In the wide-ranging Politico interview published on Tuesday, Trump also claimed Ukraine was using war to avoid holding elections, prompting President Volodymyr Zelensky to reply he was ready for them.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.
The three European leaders issued identical statements shortly after their call with Trump on Wednesday. They read: The leaders discussed the latest on the ongoing US-led peace talks, welcoming their efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, and to see an end to the killing. Intensive work on the peace plan is continuing and will continue in the coming days.
The call lasted for about 45 minutes, and was initiated by the Americans last night. Sources characterise progress as inching towards a deal - but emphasize the complexity of arriving at one.
A key sticking point remains Ukrainian territory and whether it is viable or reasonable to expect Kyiv to effectively give up land regarded as its own.
The longstanding formulation of the British government is that decisions about Ukraine have to be made by Ukraine. This is an argument European governments are making to Washington, while publicly and privately praising Trump's commitment to bringing an end to the war.
National Security Advisers from around Europe, including the UK's Jonathan Powell, are meeting regularly with Ukrainian officials. Summaries of those conversations and others are then shared by allies with Washington.
Zelensky is under increasing pressure from Trump to agree to a peace deal to end the war, with the US president urging Kyiv to play ball by ceding territory to Moscow. Zelensky has repeatedly refused to do so, seeking instead an immediate ceasefire and iron-clad security guarantees for Kyiv in any future settlement.
The Ukrainian leader is on a diplomatic tour of Europe following intensive talks between US and Ukrainian negotiators over the weekend which failed to produce a deal to which Kyiv could agree.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin said Trump's statements on Ukraine align with Russia's view, indicating a shared understanding over territorial disputes.
