'Sovereignty and territorial integrity': Austria's foreign ministry outlines conditions for lasting peace in Ukraine
Photo: Beate Meinl-Reisinger (x.com/BMeinl)
Austria’s foreign minister, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, said that lasting peace in Ukraine is only possible if the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are fully guaranteed, according to Ukrinform.
Austria’s foreign minister stressed that adherence to international law and the principles of the UN and OSCE is not merely a moral statement but a fundamental condition for peace.
She underlined that peace can only last if Ukraine’s sovereignty and full territorial integrity are guaranteed, along with its ability to defend itself, rebuild destroyed towns and villages, and provide its people with prospects for a peaceful and prosperous future.
Meinl-Reisinger also argued that the OSCE can and should play an important role in shaping Europe’s future security architecture, especially in a time of war triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
According to her, the strength of law must prevail over the rule of force, and Austria firmly supports this principle.
US peace plan and OSCE role
Talks on the US peace plan for Ukraine are ongoing. On 2 December, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff travelled to Moscow to discuss the updated version of the document following consultations with Ukraine.
Another meeting with the Ukrainian delegation is expected, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Ukraine’s goal is to learn exactly what was discussed in Moscow.
The Austrian minister’s remarks about the OSCE come as Finland’s foreign minister, Elina Valtonen, noted that any OSCE-led ceasefire monitoring mission in Ukraine can begin only when security conditions allow it.
