At the conclusion of the European Political Community summit held in Tirana, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama held a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen.

Frederiksen disclosed the requests made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Europe during the summit.

“The message from Ukraine today was very similar to what we’ve heard before: Please give us what we need to defend ourselves,” Frederiksen stated.

“I believe Ukraine has been very clear about how it is handling the situation and the messages it is sending through Europe. There are some hostages expected to be released, but we are also waiting for Russia to come back and act seriously at the table. Of course, Ukraine emphasized that while we are preparing with hope for a ceasefire, the war is still ongoing,” she added.

Frederiksen was also asked by journalists about the EU’s position on sanctions against Russia, particularly at a time when the U.S. appears to be stepping back.

The Danish leader responded that the EU, like the U.S., remains united on the issue of sanctions against Russia if it refuses the 30-day ceasefire agreement that Ukraine has already accepted.

“Can the EU do more against Russia without U.S. support?” a journalist asked.

“Regarding sanctions, so far the U.S. has been very clear. What we are asking of Russia is to do what Ukraine is doing at the table — to agree to and observe a 30-day ceasefire. We’ve seen the U.S. willing to put more sanctions on the table if Russia doesn’t agree, and so are we. So far, Russia hasn’t shown any willingness. I recommend we look towards the banking system, energy, gas, and the fleet,” said Frederiksen.