European Commission - Directorate General for Energy
European Commission - Directorate General for Energy
06/16/2024 | Press release | Archived content
President von der Leyen calls for a “comprehensive, just and sustainable peace” for Ukraine at Summit on Peace
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen participated at the Summit on Peace in Ukraine that brought together about 100 delegations on 15-16 June. Leaders deeply appreciated Switzerland's hospitality and its initiative to host the High-Level Summit.
As President von der Leyen pointed out in her opening statement : "Freezing the conflict today, with foreign troops occupying Ukrainian land, is not the answer.Instead, we need to support a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace for Ukraine. One that restores Ukraine's sovereignty and its territorial integrity. The inviolability of all borders. The sovereignty of all nations. This is at stake."
This peace, the President stressed, needs to be based on a firm commitment to the Charter of the United Nations: "it is vital that we pledge again to uphold firmly the principles of the UN Charter".
In her press statement, President von der Leyen reaffirmed that the Union will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes, recalling the almost €100 billion in support that the EU has so far provided to Ukraine and its people.
In this context, the President also highlighted the "steadfast determination" of the G7 summit that took place earlier in the week. During their meeting in Italy, the G7 leaders decided to make available approximately USD 50 billion, by the end of this year, leveraging the extraordinary revenues of the immobilized Russian sovereign assets. "We intend to disburse this financing through multiple channels that direct the funds to Ukraine's military, budget, and reconstruction needs", the G7 Apulia Leaders' Communiqué states.
President von der Leyen called for patience and determination along the path to real peace, emphasising that "ultimately it will be for Ukraine to determine the conditions of a just peace" and that the European Union will support Ukraine in this. She reminded of the UN General Assembly Resolution of February 2023, which clearly expressed the need for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. "When Russia says it is ready for peace, based on the UN Charter, then the time will come for Russia to be part of our efforts, to bring the path to peace to its destination. I hope and I work for this day to come soon", the President concluded.
More Information:
Speech by the President at the Summit on Peace in Ukraine
Press statement by the President at the Summit on Peace in Ukraine