EU chief welcomes 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon, Israel; calls for permanent peace

Brussels [Belgium], April 16 : European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday welcomed the announcement of a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon mediated by the United States and said that Europe would continue to call for Lebanon's sovereignty.
In her remarks, she also said that Europe would continue to support Lebanon via humanitarian aid.
She said in a post on X, "I welcome the announced 10 day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, mediated by President Trump. This is a relief, as this conflict has already claimed far too many lives. Now, we need not just a temporary pause, but a path to permanent peace. Europe will continue to call for the full respect of Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity. And we will keep supporting the Lebanese people through substantial humanitarian aid."
https://x.com/vonderleyen/status/2044813508794032397?s=20
Her remarks come after US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that Israel and Lebanon have reached an agreement to initiate a 10-day ceasefire, following intensified diplomatic efforts to reduce hostilities in the region.
The US President shared that he held "excellent conversations" with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, confirming that both leaders have committed to the temporary truce as a step towards a broader resolution.
Highlighting the historic nature of the recent diplomatic engagement, Trump noted that the two nations recently participated in high-level discussions in the American capital for the first time in more than thirty years. These talks involved senior US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio. To maintain the momentum of the ceasefire, Trump has tasked Vice President JD Vance and his top security team with facilitating ongoing dialogue between the two countries to secure a permanent settlement.
Reflecting on the significance of the earlier trilateral meeting, he added: "On Tuesday, the two countries met for the first time in 34 years here in Washington, D.C., with our great Secretary of State, Marco Rubio."
President Trump further outlined the administration's commitment to the peace process, stating: "I have directed Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Rubio, together with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan 'Razin' Caine, to work with Israel and Lebanon to achieve a lasting peace. It has been my honour to solve 9 wars across the world, and this will be my 10th, so let's get it done!"
The ceasefire comes at a critical juncture for West Asia, following a period of significant volatility along the Israel-Lebanon border.