Speaking after a meeting in Madrid with top diplomats from a group of Ukraine's European backers, Radosław Sikorski said participants issued a joint statement that sent "a strong message" to Kyiv, Moscow and Washington.
He added that while the EU "currently provides most of the financial and military support Ukraine is receiving," European leaders believe more needs to be done.
The meeting, which brought together foreign ministers from Poland, Germany, France, Spain and Italy—dubbed the EU Big Five—along with Britain and Ukraine, was also attended by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and the bloc’s Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius.
Discussions focused on further assistance to Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Sikorski said Ukraine had agreed to an unconditional ceasefire during talks with the United States, while Russia did "not even respect a limited ceasefire on specific targets."
He called for a deadline on ceasefire negotiations with Russia.
"Russia has already received certain assurances from the American side, and Ukraine accepted the ceasefire proposal unconditionally. We cannot wait indefinitely for Putin to stop wanting to kill. If he rejects even a ceasefire—let alone a lasting peace—we will have to impose even more far-reaching sanctions and further increase our aid to Ukraine," Sikorski said.
He told reporters Europe was committed to supporting Ukraine "until a just peace is achieved."
Referring to Washington’s ongoing talks with Moscow, he said: "It seems US President Donald Trump is beginning to realise the kind of partner he is dealing with. Sooner or later, he will see the importance of European allies in these negotiations."
He stressed that Europe must remain united in its stance against Russia.
"This dialogue, this readiness of all of Europe to oppose Putin, must be maintained and nurtured," he said. "For now, the US president has taken on the burden of negotiations with Putin. But as we have seen in recent days, Russia has not accepted an unconditional ceasefire and continues to impose new conditions while escalating air attacks on Ukraine."
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, starting the largest military conflict in Europe since World War II.
Monday is day 1,131 of Russia's war on Ukraine.
(gs)
Source: IAR, PAP