Europe Demands Ukraine’s Territorial Integrity in Any Peace Deal, France Stresses

French President Emmanuel Macron's office said that European countries believe that any peace agreement to end the war waged by Russia must include respect for Ukraine's territorial integrity.

The Gaze reports on this with reference to AFP.

This comment came as US Vice President J.D. Vance said that both Ukraine and Russia would have to ‘give up some of the territory they currently hold’.

‘The territorial integrity of Ukraine and its European aspirations are very strong demands for the Europeans,’ Macron's office said.

The US, according to media reports, is ready to recognise Russia's control over Ukrainian Crimea and ease sanctions against Moscow as part of a potential peace deal.

On Tuesday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine does not recognise Russia's occupation of Crimea, which is internationally recognised as Ukrainian territory.

It was expected that on 23 April, negotiations on a peaceful settlement would take place in London at the level of the foreign ministers of the five states. However, it later became known that the meetings were held at the level of senior officials.

As The Gaze reported earlier, European diplomats have called off high-level peace talks set to take place in London this Wednesday, following the sudden cancellation of U.S. participation. 

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the cancellation stemmed from frustration over Ukraine's rejection of proposals involving territorial compromises to Russia. Additionally, Ukrainian leaders have insisted on discussing a full ceasefire before addressing other issues, a stance that has been a point of contention in Washington.