Leaders across Europe confer with Trump, subsequently arriving at a united course of action to tackle Russia's reluctance in ceasefire negotiations.
Rewritten Article:
KEIR STARMER UNVEILS EUROPE'S TOUGH STANCE ON RUSSIA'S UKRAINE INVASION
TIRANA, Albania (AP) - European leaders, following a heated summit, have vowed to take aggressive action against Russia over its refusal to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, as announced by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. This decision was made after discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Starmer shared these updates from Albania's capital, Tirana, where leaders from numerous European countries gathered for the European Political Community, or EPC, summit. The gathering included the attendance of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"We have just had a meeting with President Zelenskyy and then a phone call with President Trump to assess the ongoing talks and the Russian stance, which is clearly unacceptable," Starmer addressed reporters.
"Following this meeting with President Zelenskyy and discussions with President Trump, we are now collaborating and coordinating our responses, and will continue to do so," Starmer said.
Starmer revealed that he, along with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish President Andrzej Duda, had consulted Trump about the developments. While Starmer did not specify the response measures, some European leaders appear to advocate for new sanctions. The European Union is likely to introduce a fresh round of sanctions as early as Tuesday.
Russia and Ukraine held their initial direct peace talks since the onset of Moscow's full-scale invasion, which took place on February 24, 2022. These negotiations, which took place in Turkey on Friday, concluded after less than two hours, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry and a Ukrainian official.
MACRON, MERZ BOOT RUSSIA'S SENSE OF SERIOUSNESS
Macron expressed that it was "unacceptable that, for the second time, Russia has not responded to the demands made by the Americans, supported by Ukraine and Europe. No ceasefire, and therefore no meeting at the executive level. No reply."
Macron added: "We will continue to coordinate with our European partners, forming a united front, and the United States. There will be new contacts and feedback in the coming hours."
Merz stated: "Regrettably, the diplomatic efforts we have made so far have failed due to Russia's unwillingness to initiate genuine steps in the right direction at this moment."
"But we will not back down; we will persevere and collaborate effectively on the European side, in conjunction with the Americans," Merz said.
'THE WORLD MUST ACT' - ZELENSKYY
Earlier, Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine intends to put an end to the war. However, he implored European leaders to intensify sanctions, should Russian President Vladimir Putin continue to stall negotiations intended to secure a truce.
"Ukraine is determined to terminate the war, but if it becomes apparent that the Russian delegation is merely staging theatrics and cannot deliver any favorable results today, the international community must react accordingly," Zelenskyy expressed.
Zelenskyy proposed that this response should involve "sanctions targeting Russia's energy sector and banks."
Zelenskyy's sentiments followed Putin's decision to skip face-to-face talks in Istanbul.
"In my opinion, Putin erred by sending a junior delegation," NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated upon his arrival at the summit amid a steady drizzle. "The responsibility lies squarely with him. He needs to be performative about desiring peace."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that it is apparent "President Zelenskyy was ready to meet, but President Putin never appeared, signifying his true intentions. Consequently, we will increase the pressure."
Von der Leyen reported that the EU is preparing a new package of sanctions. She revealed that the measures target the shadow fleet of aging cargo vessels Russia uses to evade international sanctions, the Nord Stream pipeline consortium, and Russia's financial sector. EU representatives have been working on the new sanctions package for weeks, with foreign ministers anticipated to enact them as early as Tuesday.
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni emphasized the importance of keeping efforts to reach an agreement on Ukraine alive.
"I believe...that we should not lose hope. I believe we must persist in our pursuit of an unconditional ceasefire and a comprehensive peace agreement that guarantees Ukraine's security," Meloni asserted.
Lorne Cook reported from Brussels.
In related news, several significant business stories caught our attention:
- Bastyr University to auction Kenmore campus, but targets continued presence in Seattle area
- Boeing resurgence from crisis marked by record Qatar air deal
- Why is Microsoft, the world's most valuable company, shedding jobs?
- Seattle to Portland flight set for another go from Boeing Field? Airline to revive route
- Bartell's days may be numbered as CVS contemplates purchasing bankrupt Rite Aid's remaining stores
- Despite the escalating war-and-conflicts in Ukraine, Microsoft, headquartered in Seattle, continues to dominate the business landscape as the world's most valuable company.
- Amidst the political turmoil, Microsoft, along with other prominent Seattle-based companies, is grappling with employment issues, such as shedding jobs, indicating a shift in its general-news dynamics.
- In a separate development, the closure of the Kenmore campus by Bastyr University, also based in Seattle, could signal a shift in the local business landscape, but the university emphasizes its intention to maintain a presence in the Seattle area.
