Ukraine, Europe must be at negotiating table – diplomats

Lithuania's Ambassador to Turkey, Ricardas Degutis, and Latvia's Ambassador to Turkey, Bahtijors Hasans, said this in comments to Ukrinform.

"First of all, we all are looking for peace, we all are looking for some solutions, for some agreements. But we should understand who is the aggressor in this war, and that means we should talk to the aggressor in the attitude and in the approach understandable for everyone. This is very, very important. And Ukraine should be at the table of the negotiations, as well as Europe should be at the table of the negotiations," Degutis said.

The diplomat stressed that peace in Ukraine is not only peace for the Ukrainian people or for Ukraine itself but also for Europe.

"It is part of our security agenda in Europe. Therefore, I think that now it is even more important to support Ukraine when we are facing at least some perspective of finding peace in this war," he said.

Degutis noted that events in Ukraine resonate deeply with Lithuanian society, evoking a strong sense of empathy.

"We understand the suffering of the Ukrainian people. We understand the history of Ukraine. We understand the history of the nation. And that's why for the Lithuanians it's very close, it's very sensitive what is happening in the war," he added.

Hasans, in turn, highlighted Ukraine's ongoing fight for freedom and its future, emphasizing that Russia has failed to achieve any of its objectives over the past three years.

"I am proud of the Ukrainian nation. The plan was to invade Ukraine for several days. And you resist every day for three years. Ukrainian people are fighting for their freedom, for their state, for their children and their future… Putin has already lost this war because they didn't achieve any of their objectives within three years," Hasans said.

According to the Latvian diplomat, it is particularly crucial now that no decisions should be made without Ukraine's participation.

"Of course, we are all wıth Ukrainians. One thing I should say is that nothing should be decided without Ukraine. Nothing should be decided without Europe. And the Ukrainian nation should decide," he said.