Europe – Five European countries on Friday demanded that any potential peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia be accompanied by strong and binding security guarantees for Kyiv. They also stressed that preserving Ukraine’s sovereignty and long-term security must be a cornerstone of any political settlement. This came in a joint statement issued after a meeting in Krakow, southern Poland.
European confirmation of the strength of the guarantees
The defense ministers and deputy ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom stressed that any peace agreement must include “solid” security guarantees for Ukraine. They asserted that a strong Ukrainian armed forces is the primary guarantee for the country’s stability and peace, according to the statement.
The meeting took place amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the nearly four-year-long war. However, the latest round of talks, described by Moscow and Kyiv as “difficult,” stalled and ended without a tangible breakthrough, according to news agencies.
Ukrainian involvement and French warning
Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov participated in the meeting via video conference. This was seen as a sign of close coordination between Kyiv and its European allies.
For her part, French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin, during a press conference, affirmed that the security of the European continent remains contingent upon establishing a lasting peace based on respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. She also stressed that any ceasefire or peace agreement must not pave the way for renewed aggression.
Pressure through sanctions and preparation for a deterrent force
For his part, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that maximum pressure through sanctions and measures against what he called Russia’s “ghost fleet” was essential. He also asserted that Ukrainian battlefield successes were the key to persuading Russian President Vladimir Putin to back down.
The five countries belong to the so-called “coalition of the willing,” a European group supporting Kyiv. Some of these countries have expressed their willingness to participate in a multinational force for deterrence purposes after any ceasefire takes effect. Poland, however, has announced that it will focus on logistical support without deploying troops to Ukrainian territory.
