EU has reached 'critical moment' for lasting Ukraine peace - Metsola
European Parliament president warns EU 'cannot afford to show signs of fragility or division'
The European Union has reached a “critical moment” in securing a lasting peace for Ukraine, the European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said on Thursday as EU leaders met in Brussels for a make-or-break summit.
“The EU is, by its very nature, a project for peace, and every genuine effort to spread peace should always – always – be welcomed,” Metsola said.
Addressing EU leaders at the European Council in Brussels, Metsola pointed out that diplomatic efforts in recent weeks have “brought the Union closer than ever to a peace deal”.
However, she warned that for peace to be credible, it must be built on the foundations of dignity, justice, and freedom.
"We cannot afford to show any signs of fragility or division. Russia needs to feel the pressure to come to the negotiating table - and it needs to see that it is impossible to drive a wedge between Europe, Ukraine, and the United States."
The President underscored the necessity of strong security guarantees, insisting on the principle of "Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine" as the only way to ensure a stable future for the continent.