EU Presses Forward on Ukraine Membership Amid Peace Talks

European Council President Antonio Costa emphasized the need for progress in Ukraine's EU membership process and urged Europe's involvement in peace negotiations alongside Ukraine, Russia, and the US. Costa highlighted the importance of strengthening Ukraine's security and announced forthcoming EU sanctions against Russia to end the war.

European Council President Antonio Costa urged the acceleration of Ukraine's integration into the European Union and stressed the bloc's involvement in peace talks with Ukraine, Russia, and the United States.

Reporting from Lisbon after a Washington summit debrief, Costa noted significant progress with the potential bilateral meeting between Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russia's Vladimir Putin. He called for this opportunity to materialize into successful negotiations and highlighted the necessity for broader discussions involving Europe.

Costa also pointed out the critical role of Washington's support for Ukrainian security guarantees, emphasizing that Ukraine's future stability and prosperity lie in EU membership. Meanwhile, he revealed that the European Union would persist in pressuring Russia through additional sanctions aimed at ending hostilities.

(With inputs from agencies.)