As we have been reporting, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has been hosting the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain in London today, along with the EU’s foreign affairs chief.
In a joint statement, they welcomed the prospect of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine this week, but also said Moscow has “not shown any serious intent to make progress”.
It must “do so without delay”, they added.
They are calling for an “immediate, full, unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create space for talks on a just, comprehensive and lasting peace”.
The ministers said they had agreed to help Ukraine strengthen its armed forces, “restock munitions and equipment, and further enhance industrial capacity”.
They also said they would explore the “creation of a coalition of air, land and maritime reassurance forces” that could “support the regeneration of Ukraine’s armed forces”.
Regarding sanctions, they said they would pursue “ambitious measures” to “reduce Russia’s ability to wage war by limiting Kremlin revenues, disrupting the shadow fleet, tightening the oil price cap, and reducing our remaining imports of Russian energy”.
They added: “We will keep Russian sovereign assets in our jurisdictions immobilised until Russia ceases its aggression and pays for the damage caused.”