European Council President António Costa urged Russia to halt its assault on Ukraine, stressing that continued violence must be met with sustained sanctions.
“Our top priority must be to stop the killings. Whether we call it a ceasefire or a truce is secondary,” Costa told reporters Tuesday after a video conference with EU leaders in Lisbon.
Costa highlighted renewed diplomatic momentum after more than three years of war, citing President Donald Trump’s agreement to engage in building long-term security guarantees for Kyiv.
The video conference with the members of the European Council for a debrief on the talks regarding Ukraine began a few minutes ago.
— António Costa (@eucopresident) August 19, 2025
The EU firmly supports the Ukrainian people and President @ZelenskyyUa.
Ukraine has been — and will remain — at the top of Leaders’ agendas in the… pic.twitter.com/KBNZG2nVWd
He called for a framework comparable to NATO’s Article Five, ensuring that the United States and European allies remain fully engaged.
Costa emphasized that Europe’s security is directly tied to Ukraine’s fate and urged the “Coalition of the Willing” to play a leading role. He argued that only maximum pressure, through both sanctions and diplomatic unity, can deter Russia’s aggression
