Peace without defence is an illusion: EU says it will not support ceasefire on Russia's terms

António Costa, photo: euacontacto.com

President of the European Council Antonio Costa has responded to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's call for direct talks with Russia over the war in Ukraine.

According to The Guardian, Antonio Costa stressed the EU's position on achieving a just peace.

«The European Union is interested in a just peace,» he said.

He also rejected the idea of a ceasefire at any cost, explaining that peace is impossible without proper defence.

«The European Union is a peace project, and a peace project means that security and defence must be a priority, because peace without defence is an illusion,» he said.

The President of the European Council stressed that it is Ukrainians who want peace the most, and the EU supports them in achieving this goal.

«But peace is not just a ceasefire that gives Russia more time to become stronger again. We want a just and lasting peace,» added Antonio Costa.

Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the United States is seeking to engage Ukraine and Russia in the negotiation process, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy allegedly does not give diplomacy a chance.