With Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin preparing to meet in Alaska tomorrow, Europe faces a troubling scenario: the possibility that decisions about Ukraine are made without Ukraine.
Any summit that excludes Kyiv, or treats its presence as symbolic, risks legitimising Russia’s war of aggression and undermining the security of the continent.
Even if we see a late invite for Zelensky to Alaska, being in the room is not the same as having a real voice in the outcome of the talks. A just and lasting peace must be shaped by the people and government of Ukraine. Treating the country as secondary, or as a chattel, sends a dangerous signal. It suggests that territorial conquests are there to be had and that they can be confirmed by sham negotiations, rather than resisted.
It is imperative that both the UK and EU move quickly to deliver on the ambitions of the recently agreed Security and Defence Partnership, building the capabilities needed to defend our values, protect our citizens and shape events in our neighbourhood rather than be shaped by them.
Former Minister for Armed Forces and CEO of European Movement UK, Sir Nick Harvey, said:
“No agreement made over Ukraine’s head, or without restoring its internationally recognised borders, can be called a just or lasting peace.
“The future of Europe cannot be decided in rooms where Ukraine and the EU are absent, and where international law is treated as negotiable. We stand for a peace that is real, fair, and rooted in the principles that keep all Europeans safe.”
Europe, the US and the world must be clear - peace is built on a foundation of Ukraine's making. The conditions for a sustainable peace must include justice for victims, protection for civilians, and the restoration of internationally recognised borders.
Anything less undermines the very fabric of European security and sets a dangerous precedent for the future. This is because the security of Kyiv is inseparable from the security of EU member states in the Baltic and by extension that of Warsaw, Berlin, Paris and London.
It is imperative that the peace and stability of Europe are not and never shall be in the gift of third parties.