(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) BRUSSELS, March 20 (KUNA) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Thursday for the European Union to maintain sanctions imposed on Russia until it withdraws from Ukrainian territory.
In a video call during the EU summit in Brussels, Zelenskyy said, "Sanctions should remain in place against Russia until it begins its withdrawal from our lands and as long as it has not fully compensated for the damages caused by its aggression."
The EU reaffirmed in a press release its continued and unwavering support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.
It added that it maintains its "peace through strength" approach, which, according to the statement, requires Ukraine to be "in the strongest possible position, with its own robust military and defence capabilities as an essential element."
The EU pledged to provide further comprehensive support to Ukraine and its people "while exercising its inherent right to defend itself against Russia's war of aggression."
The EU reiterated its support for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace based on the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, praising all efforts towards achieving this peace.
It welcomed the joint statement by Ukraine and the United States after their meeting in Saudi Arabia on March 11, 2025, including proposals for a ceasefire agreement, humanitarian efforts, and the resumption of US intelligence sharing and security assistance. The EU also called on Russia to "show true political will to end the war."
The statement emphasized that a credible pathway to peace must include humanitarian relief efforts, including "the exchange of prisoners, the release of civilians, and the return of all Ukrainian children and other civilians who were unlawfully deported and transferred to Russia and Belarus."
The EU expressed its readiness to increase pressure on Russia, including by imposing further sanctions and strengthening the enforcement of existing measures to weaken its ability to continue waging war.
It called for Russia's assets to remain frozen "until it ceases its war of aggression against Ukraine and compensates for the damage caused by this war." The EU also called for "strong and reliable security guarantees for Ukraine to deter any future Russian aggression." (end)
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