: European Council President Antonio Costa said on Monday (November 24) the European Union will keep on supporting Ukraine as peace talks have moved forward.

"The European Union is committed to continue providing (Ukrainian) President (Volodymyr) Zelenskiy with all the support he needs - diplomatic support, military support, economic support," he told reporters in a joint statement with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen after an informal meeting of European leaders on Ukraine in Luanda, where they are attending an EU-African Union summit.

Von der Leyen said that a "strong European presence in Geneva" has allowed to make good progress in the negotiations for peace in Ukraine, adding that "there is now a solid basis for moving forward."

The informal meeting in the Angolan capital comes as the United States and Ukraine held talks in Switzerland on Sunday (November 23) to come up with a mutually acceptable peace plan, after agreeing to modify a U.S. proposal that Kyiv and its European allies saw as a Kremlin wishlist.

The U.S. blindsided Kyiv and European countries with a 28-point peace plan last week, giving Ukraine until Thursday to agree to a framework to end Europe's deadliest war since World War Two.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. EU COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, AND EU COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ANTONIO COSTA, ARRIVING FOR STATEMENT

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EU COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ANTONIO COSTA, SAYING:

"There is a new momentum in peace negotiations. Yesterday's meeting in Geneva between the United States, Ukraine, the European Union institutions and European representatives marked significant progress."

3. WHITE FLASH

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EU COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ANTONIO COSTA, SAYING:

"We welcome this step forward, and some issues remain to be resolved. But the direction is positive. And we commend the efforts of Presidents (Volodymyr) Zelenskiy and (Donald) Trump and their teams."

5. WHITE FLASH

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EU COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ANTONIO COSTA, SAYING:

"It is also clear that the issues that concern directly the European Union, such as sanctions, enlargement or immobilised assets, require the full involvement and decision by the European Union."

7. WHITE FLASH

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EU COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ANTONIO COSTA, SAYING:

"The European Union is committed to continue providing President Zelenskiy with all the support he needs: diplomatic support, military support, economic support."

9. WHITE FLASH

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EU COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING:

"Good morning. An efficient and coordinated European engagement, as well as a strong European presence in Geneva, has allowed us to make good progress in the negotiations for just and lasting peace in Ukraine. While work remains to be done, there is now a solid basis for moving forward. As we do, we must remain united and keep placing Ukraine's best interest at the centre of our efforts."

11. WHITE FLASH

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EU COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING:

"Ukraine's territory and sovereignty must be respected. Only Ukraine, as a sovereign country, can make decisions regarding its armed forces. The choice of their destiny is in their own hands. I also want to emphasize Europe's centrality in the country's future. We will engage further tomorrow with our partners from the Coalition of the Willing."

14. WHITE FLASH

15. COSTA AND VON DER LEYEN LEAVING