Tanja Fajon

First, thank you for inviting me.

We just had a very good discussion in the Security Council in Ukraine, which was at points quite emotional.

And rightly so.

We are observing the fourth year of brutal Russian aggression in Ukraine, with a lot of civilian deaths, a lot of children deaths, destroyed energy infrastructure, and severe violations of international law and the UN Charter.

So everyone, including Ukrainians, wants to see just and lasting peace.

And everyone in the Security Council, 14 countries, are permanently calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.

So I think it is very clear.

That is Russia.

We want to see peace and we want to see just and lasting peace.

That means that peace is also acceptable for Ukraine.

I mean, the negotiations are ongoing, and I, of course, commend the U.S.

administration, Trump, and everyone involved, because it is good that there is time also for diplomacy, for searching for political solution instead of a military one.

Of course, first is, as I said before, immediate and urgent ceasefire needed, and then meaningful negotiations.

Ukraine has to be at the table.

Europe has to be at the table.

We are discussing about strong security guarantees for the countries that something like similar wouldn't happen again in the future.

And it's also about accountability.

It is a brutal war that is ongoing.

We see really horrible acts.

I was traveling myself not long ago in Ukraine in several parts of the country.