European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen issued a strong statement on Sunday in Johannesburg, outlining the European Union’s key principles for any credible and lasting peace agreement in Ukraine.

Speaking on the sidelines of high-level discussions, von der Leyen emphasized that Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and long-term security must remain at the center of all peace efforts.

Von der Leyen said Ukraine had been “at the heart of many discussions” in recent days, underscoring that any sustainable peace plan must put an end to the killings and halt the war without “sowing the seeds of a future conflict.”

She highlighted three essential principles agreed upon by the EU and its partners: first, that borders cannot be altered by force, reaffirming the EU’s long-standing stance on territorial integrity; second, that Ukraine must retain full sovereignty over its armed forces, without restrictions that could leave the country vulnerable to future attacks or undermine European security; and third, that the European Union must play a central role in ensuring peace for Ukraine, reflecting its commitments to the country’s long-term stability and future.

Von der Leyen reiterated that Ukraine has the “sovereign right to choose its own destiny,” noting that the country has chosen a European path. This includes reconstruction efforts, integration into the EU’s Single Market and defense industrial base, and ultimately progressing toward full EU membership.

The European Commission president affirmed that the EU will continue working closely with Ukraine, EU member states, the Coalition of the Willing, and the United States toward meaningful progress on peace negotiations.

A significant part of von der Leyen’s remarks focused on the tens of thousands of Ukrainian children who have been abducted and taken to Russia since the start of the conflict. She called their forced removal one of the most severe atrocities of the war.

“These children must be placed at the top of the global agenda,” she said, announcing that the EU, together with Ukraine and Canada, will co-host a Summit of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children.

“We will not rest,” von der Leyen said, “until every single one of them is reunited with their families, in their homes, where they belong.” (ILKHA)