Peace in Ukraine cannot be ‘imposed’ – Spanish PM

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Saturday that peace in Ukraine cannot be “imposed”, as he prepares to visit the country.

“Peace in Ukraine and security in Europe cannot be imposed,” said Sanchez, who will embark on a visit to Kyiv on Monday as Ukraine prepares to mark three years since the start of the Russian invasion.

Any “just and lasting peace” required Ukrainian and European participation, he added.

US President Donald Trump on Friday said he did not consider it essential for his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky to be present during negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

“The position of the Spanish government is very clear. Neither the strongest law nor the law of the wild west. Peace in Ukraine and the security of Europe cannot be imposed, they must be agreed upon with Ukrainians and Europeans,” Sanchez said.

“Submitting to the aggressor will not bring peace, rather, as proven by history, future and more serious aggressions,” he said.

Sanchez scheduled his Kyiv trip on the third anniversary since the Russian invasion to “reaffirm Spain’s support for Ukrainian democracy”.

The Spanish leader also defended Zelensky, whom Trump has called a “dictator”.

“Zelensky was elected president of the Ukrainian government by the vote of Ukrainians,” he said.