Peace must not be achieved through the capitulation of Ukraine, and any peace negotiations should begin with a ceasefire along the front line, followed by discussions on territories and security guarantees.
This was stated by France’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot ahead of the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
According to him, a peaceful settlement “must start with a ceasefire along the front line, which will allow negotiations on territorial and security matters to begin.”
“That is what we have always said, and that is what Ukraine has always proclaimed,” the French minister noted, adding that it is Putin’s Russia that stands as an obstacle to peace.
He emphasized that a just peace, which respects sovereignty, cannot mean Ukraine’s capitulation. “We do not want Ukraine to capitulate, and imagine this: Ukrainians, who have heroically resisted aggression from Russia for over three years, will always reject any form of capitulation,” Barrot stressed.
He also reminded that ministers continue to work on a reparations credit, which will protect Ukraine from “any financial difficulties over the next three years.”
Barrot believes this credit could be approved by the end of the year, while simultaneously increasing pressure on Russia through sanctions. As of today, sanctions take effect against two major oil companies, Lukoil and Rosneft, and new individual restrictions will also be introduced.
“Today we are imposing sanctions on six judges responsible for political trials and on four penitentiary officials responsible for the cruel treatment of political prisoners in Russia. Work on the twentieth sanctions package, which we hope to finalize by the end of the year, is ongoing,” Barrot added
