EU foreign ministers demand Ukraine and Europe be included in any peace initiative, rejecting proposals that mirror Russian demands for territorial concessions
BRUSSELS: European Union foreign ministers have insisted that Ukraine and European nations must be involved in any peace plan to end the war with Russia.
The statement comes amid reports of a new US proposal developed with Moscow that would require Kyiv to cede territory and significantly reduce its military forces.
Estonian Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas emphasised that any workable peace agreement requires Ukrainian and European participation.
“We have to understand that in this war, there is one aggressor and one victim,” Kallas told reporters before an EU foreign ministers meeting.
“So we haven’t heard of any concessions on the Russian side.”
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated that peace cannot mean “capitulation” for Ukraine.
He called for discussions beginning with a ceasefire along current contact lines to allow orderly negotiations on territorial and security issues.
German counterpart Johann Wadephul echoed this position, describing an unconditional Russian truce as a “prerequisite” for any negotiations.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski questioned proposals that would limit Ukraine’s defensive capabilities.
“I hope it’s not the victim that has restrictions on its ability to defend itself put on, but it’s the aggressor, whose aggressive potential should be restricted,” he said.
A source familiar with the US proposal told AFP it would see Kyiv ceding land to Moscow and more than halving its army.
The initiative has raised concerns about President Donald Trump potentially shifting toward the Kremlin’s position after months of European diplomatic efforts.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys noted some positive aspects to continued US engagement despite concerns about the proposal’s content.
“I do not see the big tragedy that there are some ideas how to end this war — that is good that it is coming from United States,” he said.
“If they are working on it, it means that they engage. They are not dropping it for Europe to only to deal with.”
A senior EU official suggested the proposal might reflect Russian efforts to appear cooperative with Trump following recent US sanctions against Russian oil companies.
European leaders have been attempting to influence Trump’s Ukraine policy since he returned to office in January. – AFP
