Veronika Remisova, Slovak MP and former deputy prime minister. Photo: Screengrab/Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Ukraine must be granted full territorial sovereignty, warned a prominent Slovak parliamentarian and former deputy prime minister, emphasizing that any peace agreement ceding land to Russia would not bring true stability.
Veronika Remisova told Rudaw on April 23, "I believe that Ukraine has the right to its own territorial sovereignty," adding that "it would not be a just or fair peace if we say we will leave territories to Russia, which is the aggressor in this conflict."
In February 2022, Russia launched a military campaign against Ukraine, citing the failure of the West to provide security guarantees that Ukraine would not join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Since his return to the White House in January, US President Donald Trump has prioritized ending the Russia-Ukraine war, leading to increased diplomatic activity on Washington’s part and Trump’s direct engagement with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The US has put forward peace proposals, some of which reportedly include the potential recognition of Crimea in Ukraine’s south as Russian territory. Russia seized the peninsula in 2014. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy had previously maintained his country’s firm stance on regaining all “occupied territories,” including Crimea.
However, on Sunday, US President Trump stated that he believes Kyiv was willing to cede Crimea to Russia as part of a peace deal, despite its previous rejection. His remarks followed a brief meeting with Zelenskyy at the Vatican before Pope Francis' funeral on Saturday.
Commenting on Trump’s role in the Russia-Ukraine talks, the Slovak MP Remisova told Rudaw, “I understand that President Trump says he wants peace, everybody wants peace, we want to have peace in Ukraine … especially for Slovakia.” She argued however that only a fair peace will be able to bring stability.
Remisova further stated that the Ukraine-Russia war has caused division within European society and worsened economic challenges.
The conflict has led to over 12,000 civilian deaths, with approximately 3.7 million Ukrainians displaced internally and around 6.1 million others seeking refuge across Europe and beyond, according to United Nations data.
Pointing to a potential fall-out in the peace talks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday stated that this week will be "very critical" for Russia-Ukraine war talks, as Washington will decide whether this is an "endeavor we want to continue to be involved in."
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