Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Ukraine has officially endorsed a joint statement by European leaders outlining core principles for a just and sustainable peace, as President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated his country’s unwavering refusal to accept any peace agreement that compromises its territorial integrity.
Speaking after a high-level meeting in Chevening House in southeast England, Zelensky thanked European leaders for their unified stance, calling it “a vital reaffirmation of shared values and mutual security interests.”
“The end of the war must be just,” Zelensky posted on X. “Ukraine fully supports the statement issued by President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Prime Ministers Donald Tusk and Keir Starmer, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. We are defending not only our land but the security of the entire European continent.”
The Chevening meeting, which brought together top European officials, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, aimed to consolidate Western consensus ahead of potential U.S.-Russia talks. Participants emphasized that any diplomatic resolution “must not be imposed externally” and “cannot be decided without Ukraine.”
No Peace Without Full Sovereignty
In parallel statements, Ukraine’s presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak who also attended the meeting dismissed any notion that current frontlines could define future borders.
“A ceasefire is necessary,” Yermak said on X, “but the front line is not a border. Ukraine will not accept any settlement that doesn’t restore all its territories.”
The leaders’ joint statement, reported by Reuters, emphasized the principle of territorial integrity, warning that “borders must not be changed by force.” It rejected partial ceasefire-driven negotiations, calling instead for a ceasefire to be a prerequisite for any substantive talks.
This message aligns with Kyiv’s longstanding position: that Russia must withdraw from all occupied territories, including Crimea, annexed in 2014, and the eastern and southern regions seized since the 2022 invasion of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.
U.S. Diplomacy: Opportunity or Risk?
The Chevening gathering came amid fast-moving developments on the U.S. front. Former President Donald Trump, who is seeking re-election and remains a key player in Republican foreign policy circles, is reportedly preparing for a bilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska next Friday.
According to a White House official, the summit follows a recent visit to Moscow by Trump adviser Steve Witkoff, which was described by Trump as having “achieved major progress.” While Trump has floated the possibility of a trilateral summit including Zelensky and Putin, he is expected to meet the Russian leader first, at Moscow’s request.
The U.S. administration has suggested that a potential agreement could involve a “partial land exchange beneficial to both parties”, a comment that has sparked concern in Kyiv and beyond, given the lack of clarity on the geographic or legal terms of such an arrangement.
Tensions were further fueled by Russia’s continued demands that Ukraine formally recognize its annexation of occupied regions, while Moscow denies Kyiv’s claims of military activity in Russia’s Kursk region, despite Ukraine asserting a sustained presence there since last year.
Europe Pushes for Inclusion, Not Concession
French President Emmanuel Macron held a series of calls over the weekend with Zelensky, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. He reaffirmed that “Ukraine’s future cannot be decided without the Ukrainians,” and warned that “European security is at stake. Europe cannot remain a bystander it must be a key partner in any lasting solution.”
In his nightly address, Zelensky called the Chevening meeting “constructive” but insisted on a clear principle: “Peace must be decided together and only with Ukraine’s involvement.”
Analysis: A Diplomatic Crossroads
Experts warn that while the American initiative may represent the most concrete attempt yet at negotiating peace, its success depends on the willingness of all parties to commit something still in question.
Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Eurasia Center, described the current effort as “the first relatively realistic push to end the war,” but cautioned that without robust international guarantees, it could lead to a “catastrophic outcome for Ukraine.”
She added, “There’s a danger that Western unity fractures under pressure, especially if proposals involve de facto recognition of Russian territorial gains. The costs to the international order could be severe.”
Ongoing Conflict Underscores Urgency
Meanwhile, fighting continues unabated along Ukraine’s eastern and southern frontlines, stretching over 1,000 kilometers. Russian forces have made incremental gains but remain far from achieving decisive breakthroughs, according to Ukrainian military assessments.
The war, now in its fourth year, has devastated vast regions, displaced millions, and reshaped the security architecture of Europe. With no definitive resolution in sight, the next round of diplomatic maneuvering especially the Alaska summit could prove pivotal.
But for Kyiv, one principle remains non-negotiable: “Security is not up for bargaining,” Yermak said. “And peace must never come at the cost of our sovereignty.”
