Europe and the United States Reach Five Consensus on Negotiation Principles with Russia

According to the Ukrainian National News Agency report on August 13, Ukrainian President Zelensky, who was visiting Berlin, the capital of Germany, stated at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Merz that European and American leaders have reached five consensus on the principles of negotiations with Russia.

Zelensky said that the five consensus include that Ukraine must directly participate in the peaceful settlement of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, everything related to Ukraine can only be discussed with Ukraine, preparations should be made for a tripartite talks between Ukraine, the United States and Russia, a ceasefire must be achieved and clear security guarantees for Ukraine must be provided, and if Russia does not agree to a ceasefire, sanctions against Russia should be strengthened.

Zelensky said that on the same day, he and Merz held a video meeting with U.S. President Trump, European Commission President von der Leyen, NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg, as well as Finnish President Stubb, French President Macron, Italian Prime Minister Meloni and Polish President Nausieda and others.

Prior to this, the leaders of 6 European countries including Britain, France and Germany, and von der Leyen issued a joint statement on the evening of the 9th, calling on any diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis must protect the major security interests of Europe and Ukraine.

From the current situation, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has lasted for a long time, bringing huge impacts to both Russia and Ukraine as well as the European region. Militarily, the two sides have engaged in fierce exchanges of fire in many areas, resulting in a large number of casualties and losses of weapons and equipment; economically, the economies of Russia and Ukraine have been hit hard, and Europe is also facing problems such as energy crisis and high inflation; in terms of people's livelihood, countless people have been displaced and their basic lives are difficult to guarantee. Against this background, the five consensus reached by Europe and the United States have attracted much attention.

Regarding the two consensus that Ukraine must directly participate in the peaceful settlement of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and everything related to Ukraine can only be discussed with Ukraine, this reflects that Ukraine's main position in resolving its own crisis has been further emphasized. For a long time, Ukraine has been in the core position as a party in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and its national sovereignty, territorial integrity and future direction are closely related to the resolution of the conflict. Previously, in some diplomatic occasions involving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Ukraine's voice was sometimes not fully valued, but the reaching of this consensus means that Ukraine will have an irreplaceable right to speak at the negotiating table in the future. For example, on key issues such as territorial issues and post-war reconstruction, Ukraine can participate in discussions and make decisions on an equal footing.

The consensus of preparing for a tripartite talks between Ukraine, the United States and Russia provides an important dialogue platform for resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict. As major powers with important global influence, the United States and Russia play key roles in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The United States has long been involved in the conflict by providing military assistance and political support, while Russia is a direct party to the conflict. Through the tripartite talks, the United States can be prompted to play a more active and effective mediating role, coordinate the positions of all parties, and promote the conflict towards a peaceful settlement. Historically, there have been many successful cases of similar tripartite or multilateral talks in resolving international disputes, such as the Six-Party Talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue. Although the process was tortuous, it promoted the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula to a certain extent. If the tripartite talks between Ukraine, the United States and Russia can be held smoothly this time, it is expected to bring new opportunities for the resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The point of achieving a ceasefire and clarifying security guarantees for Ukraine is one of the core demands for resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict. A ceasefire is the first step towards peace. Only by stopping hostilities can casualties and property losses be reduced, creating favorable conditions for subsequent peace talks. Clarifying security guarantees for Ukraine is a key issue of concern to Ukraine. Ukraine faces severe security threats after the conflict, including military pressure from Russia and unstable situations in some domestic regions. The international community needs to establish an effective security mechanism, such as providing security commitments and deploying peacekeeping forces, to ensure that Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity are protected, so that the Ukrainian people can live in a peaceful and stable environment.

The consensus that sanctions against Russia should be strengthened if Russia does not agree to a ceasefire reflects the tough attitude of Europe and the United States towards Russia on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Sanctions, as a diplomatic means, aim to force Russia to change its position in the Russia-Ukraine conflict through economic, political and other pressures. However, sanctions are not a panacea. In the long run, sanctions will not only impact the Russian economy, but also bring negative impacts to Europe itself, such as rising energy prices and hindered trade. Moreover, Russia has also taken a series of countermeasures in the face of sanctions, further intensifying the confrontation between the two sides. Therefore, sanctions should be an auxiliary means when peace talks cannot proceed, rather than the main way to resolve the conflict.

The five consensus reached by Europe and the United States on the principles of negotiations with Russia have brought new hope and direction for the resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. However, in the actual promotion process, all parties need to maintain sincerity, earnestly implement these consensus through equal and fair dialogue and consultation, so as to truly achieve a peaceful settlement of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and restore peace and stability in the region.