Such guarantees such included a European-led multinational force and US involvement in monitoring a ceasefire, they said.
In a joint statement issued after talks in Berlin with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and a US delegation, the leaders said security guarantees should include a US-led mechanism to monitor a ceasefire, provide early warning of potential attacks and respond to violations.
The statement followed a meeting of European leaders—including Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz—aimed at supporting US-Ukrainian negotiations to end the war, the Reuters news agency reported.
The statement was issued by 10 European leaders along with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen. Among the participants were French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The leaders said Ukraine should be able to maintain armed forces of about 800,000 troops to deter future aggression.
They also backed the creation of a "multinational force for Ukraine," composed of contributions from willing European nations and supported by the United States.
The force would "assist in the regeneration of Ukraine's forces, in securing Ukraine's skies, and in supporting safer seas, including through operating inside Ukraine," the statement said.
“Decisions on territory are for the people of Ukraine, once robust security guarantees are effectively in place,” the leaders added.
Separately, US negotiators told Ukrainian officials on Monday that any agreement to end the war would require Ukraine to withdraw its forces from parts of the eastern Donetsk region, Reuters reported, citing an official familiar with the matter.
Trump says deal to end Ukraine war closer after Berlin talks
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that an agreement aimed at ending Russia's war in Ukraine is closer than ever, citing progress reported by his envoys after the high-level talks in Berlin with Ukrainian and European leaders.
"I think we’re closer now than we have been ever," Trump said.
He spoke after calling into a dinner in Berlin attended by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who were holding talks with Zelensky and European leaders, according to Reuters.
Europe, US seek united front on Ukraine: Polish PM
Poland's Tusk told reporters on Monday that the high-stakes meeting in Berlin was aimed at forging a common platform for a ceasefire and eventual peace in Ukraine.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk speaks to reporters before departing for Berlin on Monday. Photo: PAP/Marcin Obara
"On one side there is America, Europe and Ukraine, with agreed, compromise conditions for a ceasefire and future peace," Tusk said. "On the other side is Russia, which we all want to persuade, through this united American-European-Ukrainian front, to finally take these proposals seriously."
The talks brought together leaders from Poland, Germany, France, Britain, Italy and the Netherlands, along with Zelensky and the US delegation, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
The European Union was represented by von der Leyen, while NATO was represented by Secretary-General Mark Rutte, it said.
Ceasefire in sight: German chancellor
Germany's Merz said that, after the latest round of peace talks, a ceasefire in Ukraine was in sight for the first time since the start of Russia's invasion.
"For the first time since the war began, the possibility of a ceasefire is conceivable," he wrote in a post on X.
"We want to walk the path to peace together, with the Ukrainians, our European neighbours and the US," he added.
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Source: IAR, PAP, Reuters