Europe must be involved in Ukraine peace deal negotiations, say diplomats | Europe

Europeans should take part in any initiative to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia, the continent’s top diplomats said, after reports emerged of a US-Russia plan that suits the Kremlin’s interests.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas welcomed any “meaningful effort” to end the war but said input from Ukraine and Europe was needed for any plan to work.

“[Vladimir] “Putin can end this war immediately if he stops bombing civilians and killing people,” he said and continued: “But we did not see any concessions on the Russian side. We welcome all meaningful efforts to end this war, but as we have said before, it must be just and lasting. “This also means that Europeans, as well as Ukrainians, accept this.”

German foreign minister Johann Wadephul struck a similar note. “All negotiations on a ceasefire for the more peaceful development of Ukraine can be discussed and negotiated only with Ukraine,” he said. “And Europe will need to be involved.”

The draft US-Russia peace plan, revealed in media reports on Wednesday, would require Ukraine to surrender its territory and cede unprecedented control over its political and military sovereignty to Russia.

French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot said peace cannot mean surrender. “The principle of peace must begin with a ceasefire on the line of contact that will allow discussions on territory and security guarantees. We have always said this, Ukraine has always said this… But what we see today is that Russia and Vladimir Putin are obstacles to peace.”

Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski, who is expected to brief his counterparts this week on the sabotage attack on Poland’s rail network, said: “We appreciate the peace efforts. But Europe is Ukraine’s main player, its main supporter, and of course the security of Europe is also at stake. That’s why we expect to be consulted.”

“I hope the person whose ability to defend himself is restricted is not the victim, the person whose aggressive potential needs to be restricted is the aggressor,” he added.

Ministers were meeting as Russia’s parliament said the “seizure” of Russian assets by the EU should lead to legal action against Belgium and Euroclear, the Brussels-based depository where most of the frozen state wealth is held.

The EU has been stalled by Russia’s plan to use frozen assets to create a €140bn (£123bn) loan to Ukraine; This was largely because Belgium sought greater guarantees on legal risks. EU officials insist their proposals do not violate Russia’s property rights and have previously downplayed the consequences of the case against Belgium and Euroclear.

The Duma vote came in response to a letter from European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to EU leaders on Monday, in which she warned that Ukraine faces a 136 billion euro shortfall in 2026-27 for its defense and keeping the country afloat. He outlined three options for providing funds to Ukraine, but made clear that he preferred a compensation loan based on Russia’s frozen assets.

EU leaders, who failed to reach an agreement in October, will discuss the plan at the summit next month. Belgium argues that the EU plan lacks important details, such as what would happen if Russia refuses to pay compensation to Ukraine or how the risk would be shared if Moscow sued Euroclear. The Brussels-based securities depository houses about two-thirds of Russia’s western sovereign wealth.

On Thursday, the Duma (Vladimir Putin’s parliament) voted unanimously in favor of the resolution, according to a statement on its website. “The seizure of Russian assets – no matter how skillful the concealment – can be considered nothing other than a violation of Russia’s sovereign rights,” the statement said. “Any violation of Russian assets should lead to an appropriate legal response against Euroclear and Belgium, starting with claims for damages, beginning with a request for the seizure of properties as a security measure.”

Euroclear declined to comment but referred to an interview its chief executive Valérie Urbain gave to Le Monde earlier this month. Anything remotely resembling a seizure He told the newspaper it would be illegalHe said: “We must be extremely careful” and warned that Russia may take legal action.

In Brussels on Thursday, Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó voiced his government’s typical hostility towards EU efforts to support Ukraine, saying it was unimaginable to “send the money of the Hungarian people to a corrupt Ukrainian war mafia.” This is likely a reference to the corruption scandal enveloping the Ukrainian government, which Budapest uses to strengthen its anti-Ukrainian stance.