EU foreign policy chief Kaia Kalas is calling an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday, August 11. She said any agreement between the US and Russia to end the war in Ukraine must necessarily include Kiev and the European Union.

The presidents of Russia and the US – Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump – will meet in the US state of Alaska on Friday, August 15, to try to end the three-year conflict. Europe is insisting that Ukraine be a party to the talks.

“President Trump is right that Russia must end its war against Ukraine. The US has the power to make Russia negotiate seriously. Any agreement between the US and Russia must include Ukraine and the EU, because this is a matter of security for both Ukraine and the whole of Europe,” Kalas said.

She said the meeting of foreign ministers would be held online.

"As we work for a sustainable and just peace, international law is clear: all temporarily occupied territories belong to Ukraine," Kallas said, warning that any agreement "must not become a springboard for new Russian aggression against Ukraine, the transatlantic alliance and Europe." | BGNES