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Press remarks by President António Costa following the meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

European Council / Council of the European Union

European Council
Statements and remarks
5 September 2025 12:25

Dear President Zelenskyy, dear Volodymyr.

This is my third visit to Ukraine in less than a year, but my very first time in Western Ukraine, a region bordering the European Union. That means and that proves that we are so close that in the future this region will not be in the borders of the European Union anymore, but it will be a part of the European Union. Because Ukraine will be a full member of the European Union.

We are here to participate in the congress of regional authorities.

So please let me start by paying tribute to Ukrainian local communities.

You are showing incredible resilience in the face of this awful war, and you are a true inspiration for us all. Europe has stood firmly with Ukraine against Russia's war of aggression since day 1, being a reliable and predictable partner.

Together with our member states, the European Union is the largest contributor of any global donor. We are supporting Ukraine on defence, on economy, on energy grid, and institutions.

The Ukrainian people, dear Volodymyr, have shown to the world the extraordinary courage when facing the Russian aggression. And you are fighting for a just and lasting peace. And this is our common goal: to achieve a just and lasting in peace in Ukraine.

Many had high hopes related to the renewed diplomatic efforts over the summer and the meeting in Alaska.

Ukraine, you personally, dear Volodymyr, and the European Union member states and all members of the Coalition of Willing have been supporting President Trump's efforts to open peace negotiations.

You accepted President Trump proposal for peace negotiations. We are preparing security guarantees to ensure a just and lasting peace when peace comes. And we are fully committed to providing strong security guarantees to help preventing future attacks.

Yesterday, in Paris, 26 countries plus the European Union committed to join forces to offer strong security guarantees to Ukraine through air, land, sea and the regeneration of Ukraine's forces.

Yesterday, we demonstrated that the Coalition is not only willing, but it is able to deliver. In a nutshell - we are ready for the day after. But for that day to come, we must push Putin to the negotiating table.

However, Russian bombs continue to hit Ukrainian cities, killing people, killing children, destroying cities and causing enormous suffering. Only more pressure can change this course and we are ready to do more. We are working with the United States and other like-minded partners to increase our pressure through further direct and secondary sanctions.

More economic measures to push Russia to stop this war, to stop killing people, to stop destroying Ukraine. The work has already started in Brussels on the new sanctions package, and a European team is travelling to Washington DC to work with our American friends.

We are also working together with you, together with Ukrainian people, towards our common future.

Supporting Ukraine's reconstruction and its European Union's accession path. It is clear that Ukraine's full membership of the EU is not only the best security guarantee, it is also the most effective path for prosperity and for a better future for Ukrainian people. I want to stress here today how impressed we are with the reforms you have carried out while a war rages on your soil.

This work must continue, and we are there to support you. We are supporting you in the war while it is continues. We will support you in your peace efforts, in future peace negotiations, and most importantly in our shared future as Ukrainian full membership of the European Union.