France insists that Ukraine’s territorial integrity must remain unchanged and that its European path should remain inviolable during any peace agreements resulting from the end of the armed conflict sparked by the aggression of the Russian Federation
This is the main message from French diplomats and government representatives who made an official statement at President Emmanuel Macron’s office, emphasizing the primacy and unchanging nature of the principles of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and European integration in any possible diplomatic arrangements. The significance of this position has become even more evident against the backdrop of assertions from U.S. policymakers, notably Vice President Joe Biden. He recently expressed the idea that Ukraine and Russia may need to make compromises and “cede parts of the territories they currently control,” adding that such decisions are not guaranteed but are possible in the context of seeking peace. At the same time, France and other European countries’ official positions unequivocally support the inviolability and sovereignty of Ukrainian lands, emphasizing that any peace agreement signed must consider and protect these principles. In this context, it is worth noting that, according to foreign media reports, the United States is currently contemplating the possibility of officially recognizing Russia’s control over Crimea, annexed in 2014, and potentially easing some sanctions against Moscow within the framework of a future peace deal. This has sparked active discussions and debates within Ukrainian society and political circles regarding possible scenarios and compromise solutions, which, if implemented, could significantly influence Ukraine’s subsequent course toward European integration. Regarding recent diplomatic activities, negotiations among foreign ministers of five countries were scheduled to take place in London on Tuesday to discuss pathways to peaceful conflict resolution. However, it later became known that the events would still proceed at the level of senior officials—likely due to the complexity and delicacy of the issue, which is eliciting intensive discussions among diplomats and international experts. In light of these events and the French president’s statement, there is a clear signal to both short-term and long-term negotiators: any peace agreement must not undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty, and its ethnic and political integrity remains a key factor for the European security space. All parties understand that future peace is not only about ceasefire arrangements but also about enshrining principles that ensure trust and stability in the region for the long term.