The future of Ukraine is in the European Union, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. She also indicated that the Commission is ready to present a legal text for the use of frozen Russian assets in connection with the war in Ukraine, BTA reported.
Von der Leyen welcomed the efforts of United States President Donald Trump to find a way out of the conflict, but stressed that any future agreement must guarantee real security for both Ukraine and Europe. “What is needed now is to start work on a real text for a peace agreement. In Geneva, we are already at the beginning of the road – "We have a united front, one voice and a shared desire for a common goal," the EC President said.
She noted that Russia continues to perceive peace as "a constant redrawing of borders and a return to spheres of influence in Europe," while for Ukraine and the EU the goal is "a lasting and just peace that ends the war and does not sow the seeds of future conflict." According to her, it is about building a strong and sustainable security architecture, based on a strong Europe, a strong NATO and a sustainable transatlantic partnership.
Von der Leyen stressed that any peace agreement must contribute to the long-term security of the continent. "If we legitimize the undermining of borders today, we open the door to more wars tomorrow." We cannot allow this“, she said.
The Commission President outlined several basic principles shared by Europe, Ukraine, the United States and coalition partners. The first is the need for peace to be lasting and fair. According to her, Ukraine, as a sovereign state, cannot accept restrictions on the size of its armed forces, as this would put it in a vulnerable position and would directly affect the security of Europe.
The second priority is protecting Ukrainian sovereignty. “There can be no unilateral redrawing of the map of sovereign states. Borders cannot be changed by force”, said Von der Leyen. She added that sovereignty also means the right of a state to determine its own future, and Ukraine has already chosen the European path through the integration it has begun. "Ukraine's future is linked to Europe and its place is in the European Union," she said.
The third priority is to ensure Ukraine's financial needs, including defense. The Commission has presented several options, including the use of frozen Russian assets. "The next step is to present a regulatory text. I do not see an option in which only European taxpayers would cover the costs. This is not acceptable," von der Leyen stressed. She specified that any decision must be in accordance with international and European law and the rules of the responsible jurisdiction.
The fourth priority concerns the implementation of the future peace agreement. According to her, a significant part of the implementation will depend on the EU and NATO partners, including on the issues of sanctions and Ukraine's European integration. "We accept as a fundamental principle - nothing for Ukraine without Ukraine, nothing for Europe without Europe, nothing for NATO without NATO“, she pointed out.
Von der Leyen also drew attention to the fate of the tens of thousands of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. According to her, thousands of parents continue to search for their children, and Europe will not forget them.
“So far, Russia has not given any signals that it is ready to end the conflict. We should not ease up on the pressure“, said the EC President. She stressed that Europe must continue to work to stop the killings, support the reconstruction of Ukraine and guarantee a lasting and secure peace.
“Let's build a better future for ourselves and for Ukraine“, Von der Leyen concluded her speech.