The Chair of the Committee on Ukraine's Integration into the EU, Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze, and the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation, Oleksandr Merezhko, joined a joint statement by the chairs of the foreign affairs committees of European parliaments in support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. In the statement, they emphasise that any agreement reached during the negotiations in Alaska on 15 August or later must firmly guarantee Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and be based on the Constitution of Ukraine and the principles of the UN Charter. «It is extremely important that russia not be rewarded with territorial gains for its brutal and illegal military aggression against Ukraine. Only the Ukrainian people themselves can determine Ukraine's future, adhering to the fundamental principle: "nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine,"» the document says.
The authors of the statement insist that European states should also participate in the negotiations in order to minimise risks to European security. «We must not forget that russia will likely try to use the negotiations as an excuse to avoid an unconditional ceasefire and achieve the lifting of sanctions,» the parliamentarians warn. They call for unity and determination to ensure that the outcome of any negotiations serves the principles of freedom for present and future generations.
Members of the European Parliament also issued a statement in support of Ukraine. It was initiated by David McAllister, Chair of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Pekka Toveri, Co-Chair of the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee, Brando Benifei, Chair of the Delegation for Relations with the United States, and Ville Niinistö, Chair of the Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Cooperation Committee - russia delegation, Ville Niinistö, the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee's permanent rapporteur on Ukraine, Michael Gahler, the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee's permanent rapporteur on the United States, Michal Šcherba, and the Foreign Affairs Committee's permanent rapporteur on russia, Sandra Kalniete.
They stressed that peace in Ukraine cannot be achieved without the full participation of Ukraine's democratically elected authorities and the support of the Ukrainian people. «Any settlement that ignores Ukraine's will or undermines its legitimate aspirations will be neither fair nor viable. We stress that any agreement on terms dictated by russia, or one that rewards its aggression against Ukraine, will seriously threaten the security of the European continent. It is therefore extremely important and urgent that the EU, its Member States and all like-minded partners and allies continue to ensure that Ukraine is in the strongest possible position to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity,» the MEPs said in a statement.
They reiterated that the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity are the cornerstone of stability in Europe and throughout the world. «Aggression should never be rewarded or recognised – neither in Ukraine nor anywhere else. If russia succeeds in changing Ukraine's borders by force, the security of no country's borders can be guaranteed,» the authors believe.
MEPs insisted that peace talks must be preceded by an unconditional ceasefire. «At the same time, we caution against the insincere approach to negotiations and the frivolous proposals put forward by russian leaders in recent months, which demonstrate their intention to continue the war throughout Ukraine for as long as they can and as long as they are allowed to. We call on the European Union and its member states to remain united and steadfast in their political, economic, military and humanitarian support for Ukraine until a comprehensive, just and lasting peace is achieved in full compliance with international law and the will and aspirations of the Ukrainian people,» the MEPs conclude.