Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković stated on Friday in Budapest that a peaceful solution for Ukraine must include the territorial integrity of the country as well as fundamental principles and values.
“If that peace includes the territorial integrity of Ukraine and embodies the core values and principles we stand by, then we are certainly positioned to reach a shared solution,” Plenković said upon arrival at the informal EU summit in Budapest.
After the European Political Community summit on Thursday evening, EU leaders gathered for a working dinner to discuss transatlantic relations following Donald Trump's election as U.S. president, security challenges, Russia's aggression against Ukraine, and the situation in Georgia.
Will Trump keep commitment to end war in Ukraine in 24 hours
On Friday, EU leaders are discussing economic competitiveness. Trump stated clearly in his campaign that he would end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours, and many believe that this would involve a deal in which Ukraine would concede ground already lost to Russia since the war began. And Trump was certainly closer to Putin than President Biden has been over his term in office.
In fact, Putin was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Donald Trump on his win, calling him “a brave man” for his reaction after the assassination attempt back in July this year. Commentators have gone one step further stating that the Kremlin is overjoyed that Trump, who they see as an ally, has won the 2024 Presidential Election.
When asked whether the leaders of all member states share the view that peace in Ukraine must include the country’s territorial integrity, Plenković said that the majority agree.
“The vast majority believe there are certain foundations upon which the modern world is built—global governance, international law—and I think there’s no doubt about that. Anything else would be a departure from our own principles,” Plenković added.
Photo - X/Vlada
Orban and Zelensky clash
He further noted that there is “broad commitment from all to continue giving strong support to Ukraine in all possible aspects, as has been done so far—politically, economically, financially, humanitarian-wise, and militarily.”
On Thursday, following the European Political Community summit, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held separate press conferences presenting entirely different views on the potential end of the war in Ukraine.
Orban stated that a ceasefire is necessary to allow space and time for the warring parties to communicate and begin peace negotiations. He noted that EU citizens are increasingly reluctant to finance the war and that Trump’s election as U.S. president has opened a new path to address this issue.
In a separate press conference, Zelensky called Orban’s proposals “dangerous and irresponsible.”
He emphasized that a ceasefire can only happen once war victims have security guarantees. “In this regard, Orban’s opposition to Ukraine joining NATO while simultaneously calling for a ceasefire is absurd,” Zelensky stated.
Before the start of the informal EU summit on Friday, Orban said that the EU must rethink its support for Ukraine after Trump’s election as U.S. president.
“Europe cannot finance this war alone. Some still want to continue sending vast sums of money into a lost war, but the number of those who are silent and cautiously argue that we need to adapt to the new situation is growing,” Orban said.
