Joint statement by the leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Ukraine.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on June 7 to reaffirm their unwavering support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s illegal invasion and the next steps in negotiations to support a just and lasting peace. They emphasized that Europe has an important role to play in any settlement, as a steadfast supporter of Ukraine. The leaders made it clear that all efforts must be carried out in the closest cooperation with Ukraine, broader European partners, and the United States.
They commended Ukraine’s recent successes on the battlefield, including the recent liberation of territory and the innovative use of drone technology. They condemned Russia’s large-scale drone and missile attacks—including the repeated use of Oreshnik missiles—on Ukrainian cities, which have resulted in tragic civilian casualties, as well as the reckless and dangerous incursions of Russian drones into NATO territory. They offered their condolences to all the victims.
They discussed how to leverage the upcoming G7 Summit in Evian, the next meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, and the NATO Summit in Ankara to best coordinate continued support for Ukraine based on its priority needs, including maintaining pressure on Russia’s war economy and increasing commitments to military and defense support for Ukraine at the NATO Summit. The leaders stressed the urgent need to scale up interceptor production and jointly develop ballistic missile defense and deep-strike capabilities, as well as to support the future viability of the Ukrainian armed forces. They also discussed how the Alliance can learn from Ukraine’s battlefield expertise and how to enhance long-term industrial cooperation with Ukraine so that Europe can strengthen its own defense.
They emphasized the inextricable link between Ukraine’s security, prosperity, and sovereignty, on the one hand, and broader Euro-Atlantic security, on the other. Regarding the negotiations, they examined the conditions that would need to be met to achieve a just and lasting peace.
- First, a cessation of hostilities. They called on President Putin to accept an immediate and complete ceasefire.
- Secondly, the current line of contact must serve as a starting point for negotiations. International borders must not be altered by force, and Ukraine’s sovereign right to choose its own security arrangements and alliances must be fully respected.
- Third, Ukraine must have robust and legally binding security guarantees once the ceasefire has taken effect, building on the commitments made in Berlin in December 2025 and in Paris in January 2026. This includes the deployment of the Multinational Force – Ukraine.
- Fourth, Russian assets will remain frozen until Russia ceases its war of aggression and compensates Ukraine for the damage caused by the war.
- Fifth, Europe’s security interests must be safeguarded in any agreement. Any element of the negotiations relating to the EU and NATO should be subject to the agreement of the EU and its Member States, as well as that of the NATO allies respectively.
The leaders welcomed President Zelensky’s call for a negotiated end to the war, as outlined in his letter to the President of the Russian Federation dated June 4, 2026. They expressed their support for the proposal for direct dialogue between Ukraine and Russia—with the active participation of the United States and Europe—to achieve a ceasefire and to support the continuation of negotiations. They reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine.
: Élysée Palace