EU security is inseparable from Ukraine’s sovereignty. Europe must act, not posture. The package discussed in recent days is not a peace plan: it lacks credible durability, solid security assurances, accountability for war crimes, and a track to return abducted Ukrainian children. The remedy is concrete action: launch the reparations-backed loan, deliver more air defense and deeper-strike capability, and build truly credible guarantees with the EU and the United States. Paper promises without power are dangerous for Ukraine and for Europe.
Ukraine must be sovereign on all its territory and free to choose its alliances. Neutrality is acceptable only as a Ukrainian decision, never an imposed condition. A large majority in the European Parliament supports a just and lasting peace, but some national governments are the weak link. Pressure the capitals and the Commission to move, including on the reparations loan. Russia started this war and can end it by leaving Ukraine; until then, Europe should keep the pressure and stand with Ukraine.
This was stated in a lengthy interview with the Guildhall News Agency by Thijs Reuten, Member of the European Parliament from the Netherlands and member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
– What are the threats for the EU if Ukraine is forced to cede part of its sovereignty – something Russia is clearly trying to impose?
– The threats to Europe as inseparable from those to Ukraine’s sovereignty – we are in this together. The European Union must secure its place at the table with actions, not just statements. Too many European leaders believe it is enough to say we support a just and lasting peace; that peace will not appear on its own. It requires hard work. What we have seen in recent days is not a peace plan: it lacks credible guarantees of durability, solid security assurances, provisions on accountability for war crimes, and any concrete track for the abducted Ukrainian children. I could go on. This must change, and it will only change when Europe – including other European allies like the UK – shows that we want peace as much as Ukrainians do. Ukrainians want peace more than anyone; it is Putin who does not, as he proves with every deliberate attack on civilians and civilian infrastructure. The situation is complicated, but Europe must show it is ready to act: get the reparations loan up and running; deliver more air defense; provide deeper-strike capability.
– What, specifically, should those guarantees be?
– Above all, together with the United States we must make security guarantees that are truly credible – a comprehensive package of what the EU and the U.S. can jointly deliver. That element is still missing in these talks. There is language about guarantees, yes, but it is not solid. Ukrainians know better than anyone that paper-only assurances without credibility are dangerous for Ukraine and for Europe. Ukraine already feels like part of our European family, even before EU membership. We must live up to that and support Ukraine accordingly. As for the “games” being played – yes, the backdrops change (an airstrip in Alaska, a room in Geneva), but the process repeats. We escape that cycle only if, after this round ends, we do not slide back into the same behavior. We must step up – not because we want war, but because we want this war to end in a just and lasting peace. Putin’s preferred strategy is to prolong the war. He also “wins” if these talks end with a bad deal; he wins at the table and still continues the war. And if they collapse with no deal, he may – for a while – again have President Trump rhetorically at his side by blaming Ukraine for the failure.
– Switzerland’s neutrality after the Congress of Vienna was internationally guaranteed. If Ukraine chose neutrality, could a modern equivalent be paired with binding obligations for named countries to intervene militarily if Russia attacks again—i.e., a neutrality plus collective-defense guarantee?
– Right now, nothing close to a balanced, rights-respecting, just-and-lasting arrangement is on the table. Second, Ukraine must always be free to choose its destiny. That does not mean it must join the EU, or NATO, or any alliance – but it must be free to pursue those paths. That principle is a cornerstone of what we are defending. If Ukrainians choose neutrality, it must be their sovereign choice, and then our task is to ensure that choice is respected – never imposed by others, certainly not by the aggressor. For now, I see a country firmly committed to EU accession; we are well into negotiations and the necessary work – though not finished. Above all, Ukraine must be sovereign over its entire territory and free to decide its alliances.
– Russia keeps trying to frame Ukraine as “not wanting peace.” How is Russia perceived in the European Parliament today? Does anyone there buy that Moscow wants peace?
– No. In the European Parliament there are no doubts on that point. This week we again debate how Europe must act to achieve a just and lasting peace, and a very large majority – roughly 450–500 MEPs – stands firmly on that position. Our concern is the individual member states: 27 capitals still have a say. I am worried about the positions of some governments. We must keep pressing both member states and the Commission – on the reparations loan, for instance. It was a missed opportunity not to decide it in October; that was the right moment. Still, it’s never too late to do the right thing. Let’s hope Europe shows strength in the coming days. Ukrainians want peace more than anyone. We must never allow bots and “friends of Russia” to claim that Ukraine wants to prolong the war. Russia started this war; Russia can end it tomorrow. President Zelensky’s message on X yesterday captured it perfectly: there can be no confusion about who started this war, who wants to continue it, and who can end it. The simplest peace plan is that Russia leaves Ukraine—tomorrow. Since that is not the case, we will keep pushing – together. This is not about “sides”: we are in this together. Ukraine is Europe. You belong to our European family of democracies.
– A shared field of work lies ahead. Thank you very much for your time.
– Thank you. Stay strong. All the best. Bye.
Exclusively, Guildhall.
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