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US and Russian leaders discussed a possible Ukraine ceasefire on Tuesday.
EU nations have reacted with cautious optimism following a phone call on Tuesday between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which they discussed a potential ceasefire in Ukraine.
According to the Kremlin, Putin has instructed his forces to cease attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure for a month. The Russian president also indicated that Moscow and Kiev are scheduled to conduct a prisoner exchange on Wednesday.
The leaders of France and Germany have responded positively to the discussions, while emphasizing the continued need to support Ukraine.
“The immediate priority must be a complete ceasefire for Ukraine. It is clear that we are in agreement on this,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated at a press conference in Berlin alongside French President Emmanuel Macron.
Reuters reports that Scholz reiterated Germany’s commitment to supporting Ukraine, saying they “will not let [Kiev] down.”
Macron described Russia’s agreement to suspend attacks on energy infrastructure as “a good start” in the peace process, adding, “We will continue to support the Ukrainian army in its war of resistance against Russian aggression.”
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto hailed the Trump-Putin call as “great news” for Europe.
In a Facebook post, he wrote, “Today, the American and Russian presidents have taken another significant step towards peace, and we hope that Brussels will not be able to prevent the peace agreement from being reached.” He expressed his hope that both sides would uphold the suspension of strikes on energy infrastructure.
Previously, some EU officials voiced concerns that Trump might negotiate a deal that would disadvantage Ukraine. The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, stated on Monday that “Russia cannot really be trusted.”
Both Trump and Putin have described the talks as productive and helpful in resolving the conflict in Ukraine.
During the 2.5-hour conversation, Putin cautioned Trump that Ukraine has “repeatedly sabotaged and violated agreements” in the past. He highlighted Moscow’s concerns regarding the US proposal for a 30-day comprehensive ceasefire, particularly concerning the oversight of its implementation.