EU Commission chief warns coming week ‘decisive’ as Ukraine peace talks intensify

​​​​​​ISTANBUL

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Thursday that EU partners remain “absolutely firm” in their push to secure a “just and sustainable peace” for Ukraine, following an intensive round of diplomatic talks this week.

Von der Leyen said she “touched base with partners from the Coalition of the Willing” as negotiations intensified around the latest peace efforts.

“Despite the pressure, we remain absolutely firm in our goal: achieving a just and sustainable peace for Ukraine,” she wrote on US social media company X, stressing that any agreement must prevent future instability. “Sustainable means that any peace agreement must not contain the seeds of future conflict and destabilise the broader European security architecture.”

Von der Leyen said discussions also focused on the need for “robust and credible security guarantees” for Kyiv as the war nears its fourth year.

She noted that she briefed leaders on efforts to secure financial support for Ukraine for 2026 - 27.

“Our proposals are on the table, and the sense of urgency is clear to everyone,” she said.

"The coming week will be decisive," she added.