International borders should not be changed by force, a European Commission spokesperson said today at a press conference in response to a question related to the talks in Geneva to end the war in Ukraine, BTA reported.
Nothing about Ukraine can be decided without Europe's participation in the negotiations, the spokesperson said, when asked whether the format of the talks satisfied the EC. We support the peace talks, the EU is ready to continue to contribute to them and to the guarantees for Ukraine's security, he added. We welcome the US efforts to end the war and achieve a lasting and just peace, the spokesperson pointed out. He insisted that European interests must be represented and protected.
The speaker noted that Ukraine agreed to an unconditional ceasefire nearly a year ago, but Russia continues its constant air strikes and shows that it is not ready for peace. We see no clear signs that Russia is seriously committed to peace, he said. According to him, until the bloodshed stops, the EU will continue to put pressure on Russia to achieve a lasting and just peace. We will continue to support Ukraine on its path to the EU, membership is part of the security guarantees, he added.
According to the speaker, Ukraine's accession to the EU is part of the issues discussed in the peace talks. We see progress in the technical negotiations between the EU and Kiev, as well as in the reforms being carried out by the Ukrainian side, he pointed out. We expect to see the pace of reforms maintained in the long term, the spokesman added, when asked whether Ukraine could be expected to be admitted to the EU on a previously non-existent "fast track".