Polish EU Presidency and MEPs: No peace without backing of the Ukrainian people

Following the recent meeting held between US and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia, which excluded Ukraine, some members of the European Parliament published a joint statement declaring that any peace in Ukraine will have to be backed by the Ukrainian people.

“No peace in Ukraine can be negotiated without the full participation of Ukraine’s democratically elected leadership and the backing of its people. Any settlement that excludes Ukraine or undermines its legitimate aspirations will be neither just nor viable,” said the statement.

They also stressed that Europe's security architecture cannot be discussed without the active involvement of the EU and its member states, while also emphasising their unwavering support for Ukraine.

The situation in Ukraine was one of the top topics discussed during a special European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) meeting with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who presented the priorities of his country's EU presidency. MEPs expressed support for the effort for the Polish presidency's efforts, which began at the start of this year.

In a subsequent press briefing with Sikorski and AFET Chairman David McAllister, the latter reiterated the same point, that “No peace in Ukraine can be negotiated without the full participation of the Ukrainian government and the backing by its people.”

Commenting on the recent controversial statement by President Trump that Ukraine started the war, Sikorski said “You can avoid almost any war by capitulation, but the point is to get a fair peace.”

Sikorski also mentioned the new package of sanctions on Russia that has been provisionally agreed and is set to be endorsed by the European Council in the coming days.

He concluded his conference by answering a question on a possible peacekeeping mission in Ukraine: “The whole point of Ukrainian resistance against Russian aggression is that is Ukraine should decide what foreign troops, if any at all, should be on her territory. This is up to Ukraine and not Russia."