The chairmen of the foreign affairs committees in the parliaments of 20 European countries issued a joint statement warning against peace conditions that would reward Russia for the war it has unleashed.
The text of the appeal was published by the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Estonian Riigikogu, Marko Mihkelson.
The appeal was signed, in addition to Estonia, by representatives of the parliaments of Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Finland, Poland, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Ukraine, and the European Parliament.
They note that the way the Russian-Ukrainian war ends and the conditions of peace will determine the security of Europe for many decades to come, and this concerns the existential interests of all Europeans.
"Our goal has been and remains a just and sustainable peace based on international law and ensuring full respect for the territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty of Ukraine. Such a peace cannot be achieved by concessions to the aggressor or rewarding the aggressor... Nothing can be decided about Ukraine without Ukraine, and about Europe without Europe," they emphasize.
"Real negotiations cannot start with Ukraine being asked to agree in advance to Russian demands. The era of empires is over, and Europe will never consider any Russian 'security interests' that go beyond its borders or imply its right to determine the security architecture in Europe as legitimate," the statement says.
The committee leaders note that security guarantees for Ukraine within the framework of a potential peace agreement must be legally binding and supported by reassurance forces in Ukraine and capabilities that will help prevent new aggression.
"There should be no restrictions on the number of armed forces or limitations on foreign or domestic policy for Ukraine, while no restrictions are imposed on Russia. Russia must at least withdraw its troops from occupied territories and engage with international institutions to ensure accountability for those involved in atrocities," they write.
The parliamentarians emphasize that European security and Ukraine's sovereignty, including its right to choose alliances, as well as holding accountable those involved in war crimes, are red lines where no concessions can be made.
