Ukraine Peace Efforts Emphasize Sovereignty Security Guarantees Amid Russia Compromise Talks

Poland, Germany, and the European Union emphasize that peace efforts regarding Ukraine must be just, respecting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, underscoring that peace cannot come at the cost of Ukrainian independence. Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola both stress that peace should be fair and lasting, backed by strength and international support, including from the U.S. President Donald Trump's peace initiatives have the backing of Poland and Western countries, while Russia, represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, signals willingness to compromise only if its security interests and territorial claims, including referendums in occupied areas, are acknowledged. German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz warns against any peace that forces Ukraine to sacrifice sovereignty, cautioning that such a peace would embolden Russia. Additionally, there is growing U.S. and European support for a postwar European security mission in Ukraine to provide serious security guarantees and deter further Russian aggression, although this would fall short of NATO’s Article 5 commitment. Overall, the consensus among Western leaders is that a genuine, just, and enforceable peace is necessary to end the conflict and secure long-term stability in the region.