Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Monday evening that the EU faces a ‘defining moment’ regarding the future security of Ukraine, and that ‘peace in Ukraine and EU security’ were ‘two sides of the same coin’.
His remarks followed an emergency summit in Paris, organised by French President Emmanuel Macron, where leaders from several EU nations, EU institutions, the UK, as well as NATO, discussed the future of Ukraine and European security amid uncertainty over the transatlantic alliance.
Macron had invited the leaders to his ornate Elysee Palace in reaction to the United States beginning direct negotiations with Russia about the future of Ukraine. The aim of the Paris summit was to discuss a joint EU stance on any possible peace deal in response to the plans of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, who want to exclude Europeans and the Ukrainians out of their negotiations.
‘We need to stop underestimating ourselves,’ Sánchez told reporters after the summit. ‘Europe is a powerful political project and the world’s largest trading bloc. Together, we form the biggest economy in the world. We have capabilities, we have strengths, and we must continue expanding and reinforcing this great project for Europe and humanity.’
Sánchez welcomed the development of peace talks, saying the US was ‘laying the groundwork’ for talks ‘that could lead to peace’. But he also said that as no agreement has been reached, ‘the conditions for peace have not yet been met for us to think about a plan’ – and that whatever deal is reached should include the ‘active involvement of the EU’.
‘Peace in Ukraine and European security are two sides of the same coin,’ he said.
‘We reiterate: this cannot be a false ending. This isn’t the first time Russia has annexed territory … this must be a lasting and just peace,’ he said, referring to Moscow’s illegal 2014 takeover of Crimea.
The Spanish prime minister said that any just solution must involve Ukraine and the EU. He also said it should reinforce ‘multilateralism, international law and national sovereignty’ and lead to a stronger, more united Europe.
‘Ukraine’s struggle wasn’t just for its independence and freedom – it was for the defence of a model of peace, prosperity and respect for human rights,’ said Sánchez.
ALSO READ: Spain’s foreign minister: It’s ‘too soon’ to talk about deploying troops in Ukraine.
Las conversaciones para la paz en Ucrania representan una oportunidad. Pero no deben llevarnos a un cierre en falso. El objetivo debe ser alcanzar una paz justa y duradera.
Debe contar con la implicación activa de Ucrania y de Europa y debe reforzar el orden multilateral y el… pic.twitter.com/49PfECXN77
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) February 17, 2025
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