While welcoming any initiative which could lead to peace, on Thursday 20 November the EU foreign affairs ministers reiterated the need for Ukraine and Europe to participate in negotiations for a just and lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia, following the announcement of a 28-point plan being discussed by America and Russia.
On Thursday, Ukraine announced that it had received “a draft plan” and was ready to work “constructively” with the United States. This plan would involve reducing the size of the Ukrainian army and giving up territory.
“Our position has not changed. For a peace plan to work, it must be supported by Ukraine and by Europe”, stressed EU High Representative Kaja Kallas after the EU Council meeting, adding that pressure should be exerted on the aggressor, not the victim, and that rewarding aggression would only invite more of it.
“The EU has a very clear two-point plan: first, weaken Russia; second, support Ukraine”, added Ms Kallas. Although, in her view, the European sanctions are “hitting Russia hard”, the Swedish minister announced that since February 2022, European countries and Europe had supported Ukraine to the tune of €187 billion, and that over the same period they had imported €311 billion worth of goods from Russia. “This means that we are left with a negative result. Give Ukraine €124 billion in support”, she explained, describing the situation as “shameful”.
Participation in discussions. Many ministers reiterated that Europe’s security depended on Ukraine’s and that Europe, Ukraine’s biggest supporter, should have a say.
Spain’s José Manuel Albares said he could not “imagine for a second that the European Union would not be involved in future discussions on a subject directly affecting Europe’s security.” His Italian counterpart, Antonio Tajani, pointed out that “the problem [could] not be resolved without the lifting of sanctions. And for the sanctions to be lifted, the EU [would] also have to give its agreement”.
For the Austrian Minister, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, “it is absolutely necessary to intensify the dialogue between Europe and the United States in order to reach a common vision on how to advance the peace efforts”.
Several ministers felt that Ukraine should keep a strong army. “Even after a ceasefire agreement has been reached, Ukraine will need to maintain a robust defence to deter Russia from any further attacks”, explained Swedish minister Maria Malmer Stenergard.
“I hope that it is not the victim who is restricted in their ability to defend themselves, but the aggressor, whose aggressive potential should be limited”, added Poland’s Radosław Sikorski. For France’s Jean-Noël Barrot, “peace cannot be capitulation”.
Mr Albares also reiterated that “any peace proposal must respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)