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Ceasefire Must Precede Any Ukraine-Russia Talks – EU at UN

The European Union has reaffirmed its united support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, stressing that a full and unconditional ceasefire is the necessary first step before any meaningful peace negotiations can begin. Speaking at the UN General Assembly on Thursday, EU Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis underlined: “The European Union is united in its unwavering support for Ukraine, which heroically resists Russia’s aggression and neo-colonial aims – the only true so-called ‘root cause’ of this war.” He reiterated the EU’s strong condemnation of Russia’s unprovoked war, calling it a blatant violation of international law, the UN Charter, and General Assembly resolutions. Lambrinidis stressed that no territorial acquisition through force can ever be recognized as lawful, declaring: “Crimea, Sevastopol, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson are Ukraine. The EU firmly rejects and will never recognize the illegal so-called ‘elections’ staged by Russia in the temporarily occupied territories, or their results.” He warned that downplaying Russia’s actions in occupied Ukrainian territories undermines the international order and encourages future aggression elsewhere. “The EU believes that a full and unconditional ceasefire is the best way to create the right conditions for real negotiations. Now, more than ever, UN members must increase pressure on Russia to stop the killings and begin meaningful talks,” Lambrinidis said. The envoy also recalled recent Russian strikes on civilians across Ukraine, including an attack that damaged EU premises in Kyiv last week, underscoring Moscow’s lack of interest in peace despite its rhetoric. Lambrinidis welcomed US efforts to end Russia’s aggressive war, noting that the EU is working closely with Washington to strengthen pressure on Moscow. The post Ceasefire Must Precede Any Ukraine-Russia Talks – EU at UN appeared first on Freedom.