The Commission president highlighted three key criteria for any peace deal with the EU: “First, borders cannot be changed by force. Second, Ukraine must maintain a strong military as a sovereign nation, avoiding vulnerability to future attacks, thus ensuring European security,” she stated.
“Third, the European Union must play a central role in ensuring peace for Ukraine,” emphasized von der Leyen. “Ukraine should have the autonomy to choose its future, and they have opted for a European path.”
Allies met for crisis discussions at the summit in South Africa, with further talks scheduled on Monday during a joint visit to Angola. European Council President António Costa has acknowledged U.S. efforts to resolve the conflict but noted the proposal is just “a starting point that will need further development.”
EU officials attended U.S.-brokered negotiations in Geneva on Sunday, aiming to incorporate European concerns into the talks. They stressed that Ukraine must be directly involved in any peace agreement.
European nations, including Ukraine, claim they were largely excluded from the creation of the 28-point plan, which critics argue endorses Russian aggression and could allow future invasions.
U.S. Senator Angus King, an independent critic of the proposals, expressed to POLITICO his hope that “after consulting with Ukraine and the Europeans, a more equitable and responsible agreement will come forth.”
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