European Commission positively assesses progress in talks about peace plan proposed by Trump
European Commission called the talks on the "peace plan" for Ukraine proposed by US President Donald Trump, which took place in Geneva on Sunday with the participation of the US, Ukraine and Europeans, "constructive progress", according to the words spoken on Monday in Brussels at a briefing by the European Commission’s chief spokeswoman, Paula Pinho, answering questions from journalists.
"Let me reiterate that strong and coordinated European engagement has led to constructive progress in the negotiations on a peace plan for Ukraine over the last hours and yesterday. This included a European presence during the talks with Ukraine and the US in Geneva, in particular with the participation of EU and Commission representatives. And as we have clearly stated, and I refer to President von der Leyen’s statement yesterday on the same issue, where the President made it clear that the central role of the European Union in securing a lasting and just peace for Ukraine must be fully reflected in any credible plan. And that is why we also very much welcome the joint statement of Ukraine and the US that was presented yesterday after the discussions," she said.
Asked about the EU’s "red lines," in particular on the issue of possible restrictions on Ukraine’s armed forces, Pinho again referred to von der Leyen’s statement. "You mentioned one of the elements that President von der Leyen also mentioned in her statement. She mentioned some of the basic elements that are necessary for a just and lasting peace and for the sovereignty of Ukraine. Firstly, borders cannot be changed by force. So we are talking about territorial integrity. Secondly, no restrictions on the Ukrainian armed forces, which would make Ukraine vulnerable to future attacks, thereby undermining European security. President von der Leyen also noted that the central role of the European Union in ensuring peace in Ukraine must be fully taken into account. Last but not least, and personally for President von der Leyen, the return of every abducted child who really needs to be returned is of great importance," the chief spokesperson recalled the essence of the statement of the European Commission President.
Pinho also pointed out that President von der Leyen has repeatedly stated and repeated in recent days, nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.
When asked about the European proposals for a peace plan for Ukraine, the European Commission spokeswoman noted that the EU "does not talk about counter-proposals". "What is important is the content of this peace plan and whether it can effectively lead to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. And this is where we play a constructive role in the discussions with Ukraine and the US. We will not go into the details of these discussions, but, as was said, some of the principles that President von der Leyen outlined yesterday already outline key principles that need to be reflected in any peace plan," she explained.
Commenting on the situation regarding immobilized Russian assets, which the European Commission has proposed to make the basis for further financial support to Ukraine for 2026-2027, Pinho confirmed that work on this issue is ongoing. "And now it becomes even more relevant, given this context," she said.
Regarding the critical position already expressed by Hungary and Slovakia in this regard, the European Commission spokesperson stressed that the EU always strives to reach consensus and works towards it. "We always strive for solutions that are supported by all 27 Member States. That is how we are stronger. That is how we have a single position on such a key issue as peace in Ukraine and the security of Europe. So, ideally, we would like to be able to count on the support of 27 Member States, but we see that sometimes this is not possible. We will try to do everything possible so that this does not become an obstacle to progress on such a critical issue," Pinho said.
