Joint Statement from Foreign Ministers of Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Spain, the UK as well as the High Representative of the EU - Berlin, December 2024

Joint Declaration by the Foreign Ministers of Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom as well as the High Representative of the European Union.

"We, Foreign Ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom as well as the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, have come together with the Foreign Minister of Ukraine today at a watershed moment in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

The goals of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine and durable security for Europe are inseparable. Ukraine must prevail.

This is why after more than 1,000 days of Russia's illegal war against Ukraine, we remain steadfast in our solidarity. We will continue to support Ukraine in its right of self-defence against Russian aggression.

We condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia's decision to escalate its war of aggression through brutal and deliberate attacks against Ukraine's cities and critical civilian infrastructure, by the deployment of DPRK troops and by using intermediate-range ballistic missiles to attack Ukraine.

We will continue to support Ukraine on its irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership.

We will continue to support Ukraine on its path towards accession to the European Union.

We reiterate our firm support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter with full respect for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

We will step up military, economic and financial aid to Ukraine, including by mobilizing additional European funding.

We stress that a rapid and collective implementation of the G7 50 billion dollar loan, in which Europeans play an important role, will help Ukraine cover urgent needs, including military ones.

We remain committed to supporting Ukraine's repair, recovery and reconstruction, in coordination with international partners. URC 2025 will be hosted by Italy.

We will keep constraining the build-up of Russia's military capabilities. We will pursue additional pressure on the Kremlin's sources of revenue, including from energy.

We reaffirm our commitment to President Zelenskyy's Peace Formula, as credible path towards a just and lasting peace.

There can be no negotiations about peace in Ukraine without Ukrainians and without Europeans by their side.

We are committed to providing Ukraine with ironclad security guarantees, including reliable long-term provision of military and financial support.

Convinced that peace in Ukraine and security in Europe are inseparable, we are determined to stand united with our European and transatlantic partners to think and act big on European security.

We therefore reaffirm the Warsaw Declaration of 19 November 2024. As one element, we need to improve European defense industry's access to public and private finance with a view to closing the European capability gaps.

We consider this an opportunity to renew the foundations of the transatlantic Alliance with the United States of America by strengthening NATO and ensuring fair burden sharing within the Alliance, including through increased EU efforts in security and defence, and to build a more secure and more united Europe.

To that effect, we reiterate our steadfast commitment to a European security architecture based on the principles of the UN Charter and the OSCE.

We also discussed the current situation in Syria. After the downfall of the Assad regime, it is critical to preserve the territorial integrity of Syria and to respect its independence, its sovereignty, as well as state institutions, and to reject all forms of extremism. All stakeholders must uphold international law and protect members of all minorities, while engaging in an inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned dialogue on all key issues to ensure an orderly, peaceful and inclusive transition, in the spirit of UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and in accordance with the will of the Syrian people. Syria must be looked at also from a broader regional perspective. We welcomed the recent ceasefire in Lebanon and stress the need for a ceasefire, a hostage release deal and provide humanitarian aid at scale also in Gaza."