“Any conclusion of a peace agreement concerning Europe, the European Union, or NATO, naturally requires a pronouncement from the EU member states and NATO member states,” stated Luís Montenegro this afternoon in Luanda, Angola, after a European Council meeting.
“There is a positive evaluation regarding the developments of the situation in the past 24 hours, with the meetings that have taken place in Geneva, Switzerland, where the delegation of the United States of America has interacted with Ukraine, the European Union, and several of our partners,” said the official, speaking on the sidelines of the African Union-European Union Summit.
Montenegro highlighted the informative nature of the special summit convened by the president of the European Council, the Portuguese António Costa, where it was confirmed that some of the concerns are beginning to be safeguarded.
He specifically pointed out the notion that “there is no fair and lasting peace agreement without Ukraine’s involvement.”
Nevertheless, the Prime Minister warned of “the complex process” involved in ensuring the end of the conflict: “It involves security guarantees, financing for Ukraine’s reconstruction, several components, whose final design, in my opinion, is still far from being achieved.”
Earlier, António Costa announced “significant progress” in the negotiations and emphasized that decisions such as sanctions, enlargement, and asset freezing must be addressed by the European Union.
“Yesterday’s meeting, [Sunday] in Geneva, between the United States, Ukraine, EU institutions, and their representatives, was marked by significant progress,” said the president of the European Council.
“The United States and Ukraine informed us that the discussions were constructive and progress was made on various issues. We welcome this step forward, and although some matters remain to be resolved, the direction is positive,” he added, following an informal European Council meeting, which also served to reaffirm European support for Ukraine in light of the Russian invasion.
The 28-point plan developed by President Donald Trump’s administration causes significant concern in Kiev, as it includes several Russian demands: territorial concessions, military reduction, and renouncement of NATO membership. In return, it offers Western security guarantees to prevent further attacks.
Trump has given Ukraine until November 27 to respond to the proposals. In case of rejection, Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to continue military advances on the ground, where Russian troops maintain an advantage.
Amid simultaneous pressure from the United States and Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has initiated consultations with European allies.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
