European leaders opposed Russia's demands to revise the security system on the continent as part of negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. In European capitals, they believe that the current security principles were undermined by the Russian invasion, rather than by shortcomings in the system of international relations itself.
This was reported on Thursday, November 12, by Financial Times on the sidelines of the 9th summit of the European Political Community in Dublin.
Russia is seeking to include in the peace negotiations a discussion of a new European security architecture that would include restrictions on NATO expansion and the deployment of alliance troops. Moscow insists that the corresponding agreements should become part of a broader settlement of relations with the West.
According to the publication, Vladimir Putin and his foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov have indicated to American representatives that the discussion of a new security order needs to begin before a peace agreement on Ukraine is reached.
In particular, the Russian side demands a review of approaches to NATO expansion, the Western military presence near Russian borders, and the deployment of alliance forces on the eastern flank.
European politicians fear that Moscow is trying to use the ceasefire negotiations to obtain broader concessions affecting the security and sovereign rights of NATO states.
European Council President António Costa said that Europe does not need to create a new security system from scratch. According to him, the previously operating order was destroyed precisely by Russia's actions.
“There is no need to reinvent the wheel here,” — Costa emphasized during his speech at the Dublin summit.
He recalled that the European security system is based on the principles of the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, including the sovereign equality of states, the inviolability of borders, territorial integrity, and the renunciation of the use of force.
According to the European Council President, these provisions remain mandatory conditions for achieving a just and lasting peace.
Costa also stressed that Ukraine, like any other sovereign state, has the right to independently determine its partners, allies, and further political development.
“The times of spheres of influence in Europe are long gone,” — he said.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas also opposed discussing the long-term arrangement of European security before hostilities in Ukraine cease.
According to Kallas, the first step should be a ceasefire and an end to Russian attacks on civilians. Only after that can one move on to discussing a peace agreement and broader security issues on the continent.
Certain disagreements relate to the participation of European states in the negotiations. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that contacts between the US and Russia should not turn into a discussion of Europe's future without Europeans themselves.
American representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, during a meeting with Putin on November 12, conveyed Washington's interest in involving European countries in further consultations.
However, Europe does not yet have a unified position on who exactly should represent the continent in negotiations with Russia. According to Costa, the European side should act jointly, with the participation of national governments, EU institutions, and NATO.
The European Council President also supported the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron to prepare a declaration of key principles for future European security. The document should consolidate the approaches that European states intend to follow in the peace settlement process.
At the same time, European leaders consider the priority tasks to be a ceasefire, reaching practical agreements on Black Sea security, and creating conditions for a full-fledged peace agreement.
The discussions are taking place after talks between Ukraine, the US, and Russia in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11 and a meeting of American representatives with Putin in Moscow on November 12. No publicly confirmed agreements on ending the war or changing European security principles have been announced yet.
