Europe will not support peace without respect for Ukraine's territorial integrity - France
Photo: French President Emmanuel Macron (Getty Images)
European countries believe that any peace agreement to end Russia’s war against Ukraine must include respect for the territorial integrity of the Ukrainian state, according to a statement from the office of French President Emmanuel Macron.
The comment from Macron’s office came in response to recent remarks by US Vice President J.D. Vance, who stated that both Ukraine and Russia would have to give up some of the territory currently under their control.
"Ukraine's territorial integrity and European aspirations are very strong requirements for Europeans," the French president’s office emphasized.
US proposal
Recall that today, Vance stated that the US has made a "clear and fair proposal" to Russia and Ukraine regarding a path to a peace agreement. Now, it is time for them to either say "yes" or the US will exit this process.
According to the vice president, both sides must give up some of the territories they currently control.
"There are going to have to be some territorial exchanges," Vance told reporters.
Vance also proposed freezing the Russo-Ukrainian war along a line close to the front. He said that to stop the killings, both sides need to "put down their weapons, to freeze this thing and to get on with the business of actually building a better Russia and a better Ukraine."
Territorial concessions
Yesterday, April 22, the Washington Post, citing its own sources, reported that the US might recognize Crimea as Russian. In exchange, Washington is proposing to lift anti-Russian sanctions.
At the same time, Russia would have to stop all combat operations, effectively freezing the war.
However, media outlets noted that freezing the conflict along the current frontlines would be a much greater concession for Ukraine. Kyiv seeks to reclaim all territories in the east and south of the country, seized by Russia since 2014, including Crimea, as well as those taken after the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine will not recognize any occupied territories as part of Russia, thus rejecting the US plan.
