Ukrainian UN Ambassador Andriy Melnyk has called on European partners to adopt a firm stance in any future peace negotiations with Russia. Speaking to newspapers from the Funke media group, Melnyk stressed that Europe must approach Moscow from a position of strength and without showing deference. According to him, only such an uncompromising line will impress Putin, thereby creating hope that he might yield in his war.
Melnyk further emphasized the necessity for European unity, insisting that the continent needs to speak with one voice. He stated that Europeans must establish a “solidly hard negotiation position” that is fully coordinated with Ukraine. In his view, who represents Europe during this process is secondary to setting this demanding policy framework. Melnyk currently serves as the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations starting in May 2025, and he previously served as an ambassador in Germany before the start of the conflict in 2022.
The international focus remains on pending summits; tomorrow and Wednesday, a NATO summit is scheduled to take place in the Turkish capital, Ankara, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also expected to attend. Amid new hope for serious peace talks between the warring parties-following recent phone calls between US President Donald Trump with Zelenskyy and Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Saturday-Trump himself offered his mediation services during those discussions. These negotiations have previously occurred without direct European involvement.
Echoing these demands, Oleksandr Prokudin, Governor of the contested Ukrainian region of Kherson, also called for a powerful role for Europe in any future peace process. According to statements to Funke publications, he added that the war against Ukraine cannot be decided unilaterally; it is not merely about the future of Ukrainians but the destiny of all of Europe. Therefore, European participation must be integral to the talks, ensuring that any resulting agreement is fair and enduring.
