02:33USA: Washington backs Kiev's peace plan demanding Russia's 'complete withdrawal' from Ukraine - Blinken
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken backed a peace plan to end the conflict with Russia in Ukraine, during a virtual Summit for Democracy from Washington DC on Tuesday.
"We all know that for peace to be just, it must uphold the principles at the heart of the UN charter: sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and for peace to be durable, it must ensure that Russia can't simply rest and refit its troops and then relaunch the war at a time more advantageous to it. Ukraine under President Zelensky has put forward a proposal that would force such a peace. It would end the war and save countless lives, it would restore Ukraine's territory and respect its democracy," said Blinken during a panel session dubbed 'A Just and Lasting Peace in Ukraine'.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba outlined the country's demands for an end of the conflict stressing that Russia has to withdraw completely from Ukrainian territory.
"For peace to be a lasting one, it needs to be just. The cessation of Russia's aggression and the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity are essential conditions for peace. Ill-advised concessions to the aggressor would only encourage Russia to intensify its attacks on democracy, giving it time to rebuild its military capabilities and resume the armed offensive against Ukraine," Kuleba explained, adding "Russia has to withdraw from every square metre of Ukrainian territory."
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
02:33Mandatory Credit: US State Department
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken backed a peace plan to end the conflict with Russia in Ukraine, during a virtual Summit for Democracy from Washington DC on Tuesday.
"We all know that for peace to be just, it must uphold the principles at the heart of the UN charter: sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and for peace to be durable, it must ensure that Russia can't simply rest and refit its troops and then relaunch the war at a time more advantageous to it. Ukraine under President Zelensky has put forward a proposal that would force such a peace. It would end the war and save countless lives, it would restore Ukraine's territory and respect its democracy," said Blinken during a panel session dubbed 'A Just and Lasting Peace in Ukraine'.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba outlined the country's demands for an end of the conflict stressing that Russia has to withdraw completely from Ukrainian territory.
"For peace to be a lasting one, it needs to be just. The cessation of Russia's aggression and the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity are essential conditions for peace. Ill-advised concessions to the aggressor would only encourage Russia to intensify its attacks on democracy, giving it time to rebuild its military capabilities and resume the armed offensive against Ukraine," Kuleba explained, adding "Russia has to withdraw from every square metre of Ukrainian territory."
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.