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BRUSSELS – A solution for Ukraine cannot be sought without Ukraine and without the European Union, and the final solution must not reward Russia as an aggressor, said Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Thursday.
“One cannot speak of Ukraine without Ukraine and cannot seek a final solution without the European Union. The final solution must not reward Russia as an aggressor,” Plenković told reporters ahead of the European summit where support for Ukraine and strengthening European defense will be discussed.
“Ukraine must not be forced into a semi-capitulation by losing its territory. The existing policy of the West and the European Union in this context, both diplomatic and political, must not be humiliated,” Plenković highlighted.
He added that Croatia can offer its experience in conducting peace negotiations and returning occupied territories in the process of peaceful reintegration.
When asked what will happen if Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban or his Slovak colleague Rober Fico block the conclusions on Ukraine, Plenković said that they will probably move to plan B, which is for European Council President Antonio Costa to announce conclusions that are acceptable to the majority with the support of the remaining 25 or 26 leaders of member states.
At the meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Member States (Coreper) on Thursday morning before the start of the summit, consensus was not reached, which means that member state leaders might personally deal with harmonizing the conclusions on Ukraine, to which Hungary and in a somewhat milder form Slovakia are opposed. (March 6, 2025)