EU Stands Firm: Ukraine’s Borders Must Remain Intact Amid Rising Fears Over Peace Deal

European Union leaders have issued a strong warning against any attempt to redraw Ukraine’s borders by force, just days before a high-stakes US-Russia summit on Ukraine is set to take place in Alaska.

In a joint statement signed by 26 of the 27 EU leaders—with Hungary’s Viktor Orban as the lone holdout—the bloc emphasized that Ukraine must have the freedom to decide its own future. They reaffirmed their commitment to territorial integrity and insisted that international borders cannot be changed through aggression.

The statement reflects deep unease across Europe, especially in nations close to Russia or with historical memories of Soviet occupation. In recent years, Finland and Sweden have joined NATO, the Baltic states have reinstated conscription, and Poland has begun building a fortified barrier along its border with Russia.

This renewed urgency comes amid growing speculation that some Ukrainian territories under Russian control may not return to Kyiv.

 Reports suggest that former US President Donald Trump is considering a peace plan involving territorial swaps—allowing Russia to keep Crimea and the Donbas region in exchange for withdrawing from Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has warned that while some areas may remain under Russia’s de facto control, such territorial changes should never be formally recognized.

The EU’s statement also pledged ongoing military support to Ukraine, stressing its right to self-defence and reaffirming its path toward EU membership.

“Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has wider implications for European and international security,” the statement read. “The European Union will continue supporting Ukraine on its path towards a just and lasting peace.”

However, Hungary’s refusal to sign highlighted cracks in EU unity. Orban criticized the statement for “setting conditions for a meeting to which the EU was not invited” and suggested holding an EU-Russia summit instead—an idea most European leaders have avoided since Russia’s 2022 invasion.

Trump is scheduled to meet EU leaders on Wednesday before heading into talks with Vladimir Putin on Friday in Alaska. European capitals are hoping to influence the US approach, fearing that any rushed peace deal could leave Ukraine vulnerable and compromise the stability of the continent.