European reaction Attempt to broker deal must involve EU, say diplomats

Europeans must be involved in any attempt to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia, the continent's top diplomats said yesterday after reports of a US-Russia plan favourable to Moscow's interests emerged.

- Jennifer Rankin

The EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, welcomed any "meaningful efforts" to end the war but said Ukrainian and European input was needed for any plan to work.

"[Vladimir] Putin could end this war immediately if he just stopped bombing civilians and killing the people," she said. "But we haven't seen any concessions on the Russian side. We welcome all the meaningful efforts to end this war, but like we have said before, it has to be just and lasting. That also means that the Ukrainians, but also the Europeans, agree to this." Ministers were solid and calm about the latest plan, Kallas told reporters after the meeting, "because we have seen this before, and because different peace plans cannot work if the Europeans and Ukrainians do not agree to this".

She said the EU would continue working on sanctions to pressure on Russia: "The EU has a very clear two-point plan: first, weaken Russia; second, support Ukraine."

The German foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, sounded a similar note. "All negotiations about a ceasefire, regarding the further peaceful development of Ukraine, can only be discussed and negotiated with Ukraine," he said. "And Europe will have to be included."