Ukraine is ready for peace, but has its own "red lines" that are unacceptable. This was stated by Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk at the fourth parliamentary summit of the International Crimea Platform.
Five main principles
Stefanchuk voiced the conditions Ukraine will not agree to violate:
No legal recognition of the Russian occupation of Ukrainian territories. Ukraine will never recognize the annexation of its regions.
No restrictions on the Defense Forces of Ukraine. The Armed Forces will remain fully operational without cuts or limitations.
No veto on the right to choose future alliances. Ukraine will independently determine its path, including regarding accession to NATO.
The principle "nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine" and "nothing about Europe without Europe." Any genuine peace process must take into account Kyiv's position and that of European partners.
Preservation of language, faith and national identity. Ukraine will not give up its cultural distinctiveness.
Speaker's position
Stefanchuk emphasized that no one has the right to cross these lines – neither physically, nor legally, nor morally. He named the strengthening of Ukraine's defensive capabilities as an important component of a real peace plan.
Context of negotiations
On November 23, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there had been significant progress in the negotiations following a meeting of Ukrainian and American delegations in Geneva.
The next day President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that Ukraine is at a critical moment. He added that there is a lot of noise in the media and political pressure surrounding the peace plan.
Donald Trump said that one should not believe in "significant progress" between Ukraine and Russia until it becomes apparent.
