The EU must be part of any peace agreement on Ukraine, as it is indispensable when it comes to security guarantees, post-war reconstruction and sanctions.
The agreement must also ensure that Russia does not attack again, said the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas after a meeting of the Council of the Baltic Sea Region countries in Warsaw, Ukrinform reports.
Commenting on US President Donald Trump’s statement about possible arrangements with Russia, Kallas noted that attempts to reach an agreement without Europe will not work, and recalled Trump and Putin’s meeting in Anchorage, Alaska. She said Europe is not acting as a mediator in the talks because it stands firmly on Ukraine’s side, and that the Russian leader has no right of veto over European security.
The EU’s top diplomat said she had prepared a document setting out demands for Moscow that should form the basis of negotiations. These conditions include refusing to recognise Russia’s claims to the occupation of Ukrainian territories, holding it accountable for war crimes, violations of international law and the destruction caused. The document also provides for guaranteeing Ukraine’s sovereignty, its right to choose alliances independently, no restrictions on the size of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the return home of deported children, and an end to Russian sabotage in Europe.
Kallas added that a peace agreement must prevent Russia from using any pause to rearm and launch a new attack. In her view, for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to succeed, pressure must be applied to the aggressor, not the victim.
- US negotiator Jared Kushner said on the social network X that the first Ukraine-Russia-US talks since February will be held next week in a trilateral format.
- Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has stressed that Europe must be involved in the peace process on Ukraine both before the meeting in Abu Dhabi and afterwards.