Only Ukraine has the right to determine its borders and its future – Dutch FM
Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel has called for doing everything possible to put Ukraine in the strongest position "before, during and after any ceasefire."
He said this at a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiha in Kyiv on Tuesday, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reports.
"It is a great honor for me to be in Kyiv today. This is not my first visit to Ukraine, but this is my first visit as the Dutch Foreign Minister. And I am here with one clear message: We support Ukraine," he said.
David van Weel stressed that as long as Russia continues its aggression against Ukraine, launching missiles and drones at Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure, without showing a serious interest in peace, "we must do everything in our power to put Ukraine in the strongest position before, during and after any ceasefire."
He expressed his respect for Ukraine for its readiness to "work seriously and constructively with the United States in the pursuit of a just and lasting peace."
"We strongly support President Donald Trump's position that hostilities must cease immediately. And we support you in your efforts to achieve peace and end this war. In the upcoming peace negotiations, one thing is absolutely clear for the Netherlands: only Ukraine has the sovereign right to determine its borders and its future," he said.
The head of the department emphasized that Ukraine's future lies in the EU, noting the country's successes in implementing the reforms necessary for EU accession in difficult circumstances.
"Be assured that we will be with you throughout this process," he said.