Ukraine and its closest European allies – Britain, France and Germany – have outlined five conditions for achieving a just and lasting peace, writes the BBC.
In a joint statement after talks in London, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said they would stand firm on Ukraine.
The five conditions include a cessation of hostilities, the start of talks based on the current situation on the battlefield, as well as solid security guarantees for Ukraine. The Europeans reiterated that the United States, despite its president’s current focus on the situation in the Middle East, must be part of the peace process.
Last December, the United States wanted to achieve a quick peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia. Since then, the mutual attacks have only intensified, with Russia continuing to use missiles and drones to attack Ukrainian cities. Meanwhile, Ukraine has demonstrated a significantly increased ability to use new technologies to reach targets deep inside Russia. On the 6th of June, Ukrainian drones hit targets in St. Petersburg, where Russia’s largest economic forum was taking place.
Russian authorities described the attack as unprecedented.
Just days earlier, Kyiv carried out an attack on the outskirts of St. Petersburg as the economic forum was just beginning. On the opening day of the event, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sent an open letter to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, calling for face-to-face talks to end the war. Putin has not backed down from his oft-stated claim that the war will end only when Russia achieves its goals.
The leaders of Britain, Germany and France welcomed Zelensky’s letter and supported a call for direct dialogue between Ukraine and Russia, involving the United States and Europe. Referring to Russia’s demand that Ukraine abandon its plan to join NATO, the Europeans said that Kyiv has the right to choose its own path to security and that alliances must be respected.
Read also: Norway’s Foreign Minister: EU should join peace talks, but not as mediator
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