There are no “signs” that Russia wants to end the war in Ukraine, but we still need to “find a way” to end the carnage, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, speaking to a plenary session of Parliament in Strasbourg. However, a any peace agreement for Ukraine “should not” include “any restrictions” on Kiev’s armed forces and this must not create a “dangerous precedent” for Europe, since the recognition of new borders would pave the way for “new wars” on European territory. That the status of a sovereign state “cannot be changed by force”he said.
For von der Leyen, “of course, the situation is complicated; of course, the situation is unstable; of course, the situation is dangerous, but I believe that there is also an opportunity to make real progress. So far we have not seen any signs from Russia of a real desire to end this conflict.” So, he added, “we must continue to put pressure on Russia”which the EU has so far done mainly through sanctions, “but it is also our duty to engage in all efforts that can lead to a just and lasting peace”.
We must find a way to stop the killings, help Ukraine rebuild, bring children home and reunite families. We must find ways to guarantee long-term security for Ukraine and our continent as a whole. And most importantly, to create a better future for Ukraine” and for Europe, he underlined.
For the EU, he said, “the priority is that any agreement must guarantee a just and lasting peace. It must guarantee real security for Ukraine and Europe.” Because Ukraine is “a sovereign state, there are no restrictions on Ukraine’s armed forces, which would make the country vulnerable to future attack.”
He continued, “This is as much about Ukraine as it is about European security, because Ukraine’s security is Europe’s security. Ukraine needs strong, credible and trustworthy long-term security guarantees as part of a broader package to deter and deter future Russian attacks. It is also clear that any peace agreement must ensure that Europe’s security is guaranteed in the long term.”
“We can never forget – he continued – what Ukraine sacrificed, what it fought for: its security, its freedom, its independence. Because, in the end, this is what is at stake in these important days for Ukraine and Europe: basically, the core and values of the UN Charter. This is why Europe will support Ukraine and support it every step of the way,” he underlined.
For Moscow, peace in Ukraine is only the “first step” in a “much larger” game, the aim of which is to restore its “sphere of influence” in Europe, he continued. Russian President Vladimir Putin, said von der Leyen, “always believed that Russia could outlast Ukraine, Europe and all its allies. This is why, every time there is serious progress toward negotiations that could lead to genuine peace, violence increases. We’ve seen it before: it’s a pattern. And the rumors coming from the Kremlin in recent days say a lot about their true intentions. Ukraine is the first step in a much bigger game for Russia.”
“Any peace agreement – continued the president – this concerns the permanent redefinition of the map, it concerns the return of relations between major powers and spheres of influence. But, for Ukraine and Europe, any peace agreement it’s about creating a just and lasting peace, a peace that ends this conflictthat does not sow the seeds of new future conflicts and guarantees a strong and sustainable security architecture for our continent”. An architecture that must be “supported by a strong Europe, a strong NATO and a strong transatlantic partnership. This is something we will defend, together with Ukraine and our allies, every step of the way.”
Von der Leyen reiterated that it was possible peace in Ukraine should not create a “dangerous precedent” for Europe, as the recognition of new borders would pave the way for “new wars” on European territory.. “A just and lasting peace – said the president – is what we all want. This is why Europe supports all efforts to build a peace for Ukraine that stops the killing, that avoids creating a dangerous precedent, that guarantees the security of Ukraine and its sovereign rights in the long term and that guarantees a solid security architecture for Europe.”
“This is why – he continued – we welcome the efforts led by President Donald Trump. After months of discussions, it is important to begin efforts to draft a real text. Of course we know that more efforts are needed, but I believe that thanks to the efforts of Ukraine, the United States, and as European countries in the last few days in Geneva, we now have a starting point. Our united front, our single voice, and a sense of shared purpose must continue to guide efforts at the European level.”
For von der Leyen, “Russia’s mentality has not changed since Yalta. Russia views our continent based on its sphere of influence. Therefore, we must be clear that there can be no unilateral separation of a sovereign European state.” The status of a sovereign state “cannot be changed by force.”
If now, he warned, “we legitimize and formalize the weakening of borders, we open the door to more wars in the future.
For von der Leyen, “this is just the beginning of a journey. The future of Europe is linked to the future of Ukraine. Therefore, the future of Ukraine is in the European Union. This is not just a matter of fate. This is a fundamental and important part of any security guarantee framework: we will do everything we can to achieve it together”, she concluded.
