I. UKRAINE
1. The European Council held an exchange of views with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine.
2. The European Council discussed the latest developments as regards Ukraine. The text set out in document EUCO 11/25 was firmly supported by 26 Heads of State or Government.
3. The European Council will revert to the issue at its next meeting.
EUCO 11/25 – extract
1. Recalling its previous conclusions, the European Council reaffirms its continued and unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. The European Union maintains its ‘peace through strength’ approach, which requires Ukraine to be in the strongest possible position, with its own robust military and defence capabilities as an essential component. In line with this approach, the European Union remains committed, in coordination with like-minded partners and allies, to providing further comprehensive support to Ukraine and its people, as it exercises its inherent right to self-defence against Russia’s war of aggression.
2. The European Council reiterates its support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law and welcomes all efforts towards achieving such a peace. It recalls the principles it set out on 6 March 2025 that should guide peace negotiations.
3. The European Council welcomes the joint statement by Ukraine and the United States following their meeting in Saudi Arabia on 11 March 2025, including the proposals for a ceasefire agreement, humanitarian efforts, and the resumption of US intelligence sharing and security assistance. The European Council calls on Russia to show real political will to end the war.
4. A credible pathway to peace must include humanitarian relief efforts, notably the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilians and the return of all Ukrainian children and other civilians unlawfully deported and transferred to Russia and Belarus.
5. The European Union remains ready to step up pressure on Russia, including through further sanctions and by strengthening the enforcement of existing measures, including further means and measures to counter their circumvention, in order to weaken its ability to continue waging its war of aggression. Subject to EU law, Russia’s assets should remain immobilised until Russia ceases its war of aggression against Ukraine and compensates it for the damage caused by this war.
6. The European Union and its Member States will contribute to the peace process and help secure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, which is in the interest of both Ukraine and Europe as a whole.
7. A comprehensive peace agreement, which respects Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, needs to be accompanied by robust and credible security guarantees for Ukraine to deter future Russian aggression. The European Council welcomes the efforts that have started in this regard together with like-minded and NATO partners. The European Union and Member States are ready to contribute to security guarantees, in particular by supporting Ukraine’s ability to defend itself effectively, based on their respective competences and capabilities, in line with international law.
8. The European Union will continue to provide Ukraine with regular and predictable financial support. The European Council calls on the Commission to swiftly take all necessary measures to frontload financing under the Ukraine Facility and the G7 ERA initiative. It urges the Commission and Member States to use all options under the Ukraine Facility to increase financial support to Ukraine.
9. The European Council recalls the initiatives to enhance EU military support to Ukraine, notably that of the High Representative to coordinate increased support by Member States and other participating States, on a voluntary basis, notably on large-calibre artillery ammunition and missiles, as well as the military needs component of the G7 ERA initiative. It calls on Member States to urgently step up efforts to address Ukraine’s pressing military and defence needs.
10. All military support as well as security guarantees for Ukraine will be provided in full respect of the security and defence policy of certain Member States and taking into account the security and defence interests of all Member States.
11. The European Council reaffirms the EU’s strong commitment to ensuring full accountability for war crimes and the other most serious crimes committed in connection with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. In this context, the progress made on establishing a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, within the framework of the Council of Europe, is an important step.
12. The European Union remains committed to supporting Ukraine’s repair, recovery and reconstruction, in coordination with international partners. The Ukraine Recovery Conference in July 2025, hosted by Italy, will be important in that context.
13. The European Council reiterates the inherent right of Ukraine to choose its own destiny, based on the UN Charter and international law. The European Union will intensify support for Ukraine’s reform efforts on its path towards EU membership. The European Council underlines the importance of progress in the negotiating process in line with the merit-based approach, opening clusters when the conditions are met, starting with the fundamentals cluster as soon as possible.
14. The European Council will revert to this issue at its next meeting.
Source – The European Council: Visit the meeting page