The Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU, Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, and the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation, Oleksandr Merezhko, joined a statement by the chairs of foreign affairs committees of European parliaments in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The statement stresses that any agreement reached during the negotiations in Alaska on August 15 or thereafter must firmly guarantee Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and be based on the Constitution of Ukraine and the principles of the UN Charter. “It is of the utmost importance that Russia is not rewarded for its brutal and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine with territorial gains. The future of Ukraine can only be determined by the Ukrainian people themselves, upholding the fundamental principle that ‘nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine,” the document reads.

The authors emphasize that European states must also be involved in the negotiations in order to minimize risks to European security. “It should not be forgotten that Russia will likely try to use the negotiations as a pretext to avoid an unconditional ceasefire and to achieve the lifting of sanctions,” the parliamentarians warn. They call for unity and determination to ensure that the outcome of any negotiations serves the principles of freedom for current and future generations.

Members of the European Parliament also issued a statement in support of Ukraine. It was initiated by David McAllister, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs; Pekka Toveri, the Chair of the delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee; Brando Benifei, the Chair of the delegation for relations with the U.S.; Ville Niinistö, the Chair of the delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee; Michael Gahler, the Committee on Foreign Affairs’ standing rapporteur for Ukraine; Michał Szczerba, the Committee on Foreign Affairs’ standing rapporteur for the U.S. and Sandra Kalniete, the Committee on Foreign Affairs’ standing rapporteur for Russia.

They underlined that peace in Ukraine cannot be achieved without the full participation of Ukraine’s democratically elected government and the support of the Ukrainian people. “Any settlement that neglects the will of Ukraine or undermines its legitimate aspirations will be neither just nor viable.We emphasise that any arrangement on terms dictated by Russia or that would reward its war of aggression against Ukraine would gravely endanger the security of the European continent. It is therefore essential and urgent that the EU, its Member States and all like-minded partners and allies continue to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the MEPs stated.

They reminded that the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity are cornerstones of stability in Europe and globally. “Aggression must never be rewarded or acknowledged – neither in Ukraine nor anywhere else. If Russia succeeds in altering Ukraine’s borders by force, the security of no country’s borders can be assured,” the authors stressed.

The MEPs insisted that peace negotiations must be preceded by an unconditional ceasefire. “At the same time, we caution against the disingenuous approach to negotiations and the unserious proposals put forward by Russian leaders over the past months, which reveal their intent to prolong the war across the entire Ukrainian territory for as long as they can and as long as they are allowed to. We call on the European Union and its Member States to remain united and steadfast in their political, economic, military and humanitarian support to Ukraine until a comprehensive, just and lasting peace is secured in full accordance with international law and the will and aspirations of the Ukrainian people,” the MEPs concluded.