BRUSSELS. March 20 (Interfax) - All but one of European Council members on Thursday voted for a document on Ukraine, reiterating their support for the country's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internally recognized borders.
"The European Union remains ready to step up pressure on Russia, including through further sanctions and by strengthening the enforcement of existing measures, including further means and measures to counter their circumvention," a European Council document said.
"Subject to EU law, Russia's assets should remain immobilized" and Russia "compensates it [Ukraine] for the damage," the document said.
Welcoming the Ukraine-U.S. joint statement following their meeting in Saudi Arabia on March 11, 2025, including the proposals concerning a ceasefire agreement, the Council urged Russia to show "real political will" in aspiring to peace.
The EU intends to facilitate the peace process, and "a comprehensive peace agreement, which respects Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, needs to be accompanied by robust and credible security guarantees for Ukraine," the document said.
The EU and its member states "are ready to contribute to security guarantees, in particular by supporting Ukraine's ability to defend itself effectively," it said. Members should "urgently step up efforts to address Ukraine's pressing military and defense needs," it said.
Of the 27 EU members, only Hungary again withheld support for the document.
The Ukrainian situation was discussed in by telephone on March 18 between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. In particular, the presidents discussed who will be in the delegations at upcoming Russia-U.S. negotiations, the Russian president's press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.