On Thursday 27 November, the European Parliament adopted (401 votes in favour, 70 against and 90 abstentions), without amendment, the motion for a resolution tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, Renew Europe and Greens/EFA groups, which “notes” the Trump administration’s efforts towards ending Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, while stressing that “US policy ambivalence towards Ukraine is detrimental to the objective of achieving sustainable peace” (see EUROPE 13760/2).
MEPs are calling on the European Union to “show leadership” to achieve a just and lasting peace, with any European strategy having to be “based on international law, strengthen European security, preserve and restore Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
According to the Parliament, a peace agreement will have to be “preceded by a ceasefire”, which Russia is currently refusing, and “be underpinned by robust EU and US security guarantees to Ukraine” “amounting to the level” of those provided for in the treaty establishing the Atlantic Alliance.
Ukraine “has the freedom to choose its security and political alliances free from any Russian veto”, stress the MEPs, while the initial Trump plan leaked to the press provides for Ukraine to join the EU, but not NATO.
MEPs believe that EU sanctions against Russia should not be lifted until a peace agreement is implemented. If the Kremlin refuses to engage in serious talks, they advocate new sanctions.
The Parliament also calls on the Member States to rapidly adopt a “reparation loan” mobilising the assets of the Bank of Russia that have been frozen in the EU since February 2022.
In the vote, all the amendments from the PfE and The Left groups were rejected.
For the PfE group, the US initiative constitutes “a useful working basis” for the peace negotiations. The far right asked whether any European funds were involved in the recent corruption scandals in Ukraine.
The Left denounced the EU’s “militaristic stance” and its “inability to devise an autonomous and credible peace programme”. The radical left was also concerned about corruption in Ukraine, which is giving rise to “mistrust” among Europe’s citizens.
See the European Parliament’s Resolution: https://aeur.eu/f/jpa (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)