On Wednesday 18 February, Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, explained that Europe’s participation in the peace negotiations between Ukraine, Russia and the United States in Switzerland was “indispensable”.
“Europe’s participation in the process [is] indispensable for the successful implementation of entirely feasible agreements”, said Mr Zelensky on the X social network. “Ukraine has no doubt that partners are capable of ensuring the constructiveness of the negotiation process and, therefore, a dignified result”, he added.
On the sidelines of the trilateral negotiations, the Ukrainian delegation, accompanied by the US delegation, met representatives from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland.
Pending a peace agreement, the Europeans are continuing to work on the return of the 20,000 Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia. In a recorded speech broadcast during a plenary debate at the European Economic and Social Committee, the Ukrainian First Lady, Olena Zelenska, explained that 1995 children had been returned to Ukraine thanks to international bodies.
The Head of the Ukraine Division at the European External Action Service (EEAS), Baiba Tavaresa, announced that the EEAS, together with the European Commission, was preparing a meeting of the international coalition for the return of children, which is expected to take place in the spring. She added that, as part of the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, the EU could take new measures against those responsible for the deportation of children.
On Wednesday, discussions continued between the ambassadors of EU Member States on this 20th package of sanctions. They will return to the subject on Friday with the aim of reaching an agreement on the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, on 24 February. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)