European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized on Sunday that the “central role” of the European Union needs to be “fully integrated” into a peace plan for Ukraine.
Her remarks come amid U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Switzerland for discussions regarding the controversial peace initiative.
“A credible and lasting peace plan must prioritize stopping the violence and bringing an end to the war, without laying the groundwork for future conflicts,” she stated.
“Ukraine should have the freedom and sovereign right to determine its own path. They have opted for a European future,” she continued.
She indicated that the plan ought to encompass the reconstruction of the country, its integration into the EU’s single market, and ultimately achieving full membership in the union.
From the G20 summit in Johannesburg, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed his doubts on Sunday regarding the likelihood of reaching an agreement.
“I am not yet persuaded that the solutions sought by President Trump will materialize in the next few days,” Merz reflected.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, who is also participating in the G20 summit in South Africa, told AFP that there are “significant shortcomings” in the proposed plan.
“We require U.S. involvement to help bring an end to the war in Ukraine and to halt the Russian aggression. This is a positive step,” Store mentioned on the sidelines of the summit.
“However, the plan falls short and has major issues that need addressing. One of those is ensuring Europe is included in the discussions and, importantly, that Ukraine is also represented,” he asserted.
Store remarked, “Using force to change borders is unacceptable,” referencing the 28-point proposal.
He underscored that the plan must comply with international law, including the principles outlined in the United Nations Charter.
Europe is keen to ensure its role is not overlooked in the discussions about the peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine.
The EU will engage in talks in Geneva on Sunday with Ukrainian and U.S. representatives; the discussions will be attended by Von der Leyen’s deputy, Bjoern Seibert.
Additionally, European leaders convening for a separate summit in Luanda, Angola, on Monday are expected to discuss the Ukraine strategy as well.
