Ensure a fair peace, Russia must not be the winner

BRUSSELS – Negotiations to end the war in Ukraine must result in a just peace and Russia must not be allowed to emerge as a winner after three years of devastation, Croatian Defense Minister Ivan Anušić said Thursday in Brussels.

“In the negotiation process, Ukraine must have victim status in order to negotiate a just peace and Russia must not be allowed to end with any kind of victory after three years of devastation,” Anušić said before the start of the second day of the meeting of NATO member states’ defense ministers.

Yesterday was a difficult day for Ukraine after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin and announced that they had “agreed that their negotiating teams would immediately start negotiations” and that they would inform Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about their conversation.

Shortly before that, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said at NATO headquarters in Brussels that a return of Ukraine to pre-2014 borders was unrealistic and that the U.S. government did not see Kyiv’s NATO membership as a solution to end the war.

In addition, European and other forces operating outside the NATO framework would be responsible for maintaining peace. They would not include Americans.

Ukraine is demanding that Russia withdraw from occupied territories and wants NATO membership or similar security guarantees that will protect it from future Russian attacks.

Minister Anušić said that even before taking office, Trump announced a shift in U.S. policy and that it is now important for Europe to insist on a just peace for Ukraine.

“An unjust peace is simply not an option and cannot be an option not only because of Ukraine, but also as an example to the whole world and those who have intentions like Russia’s claims on Ukrainian territory. It is crucial that Europe must insist on this,” Anušić said, adding that an unjust peace would only temporarily stop the conflict, which would be reactivated after some time.

Anušić said that Croatia has allocated 208 million euros to help Ukraine so far, which is quite sufficient considering its GDP, and will continue to provide assistance.

He said that Europe and Canada have so far participated with 60 percent in the total military assistance to Ukraine, and the United States with 40 percent.

“Europe can and must take some responsibility as it has done so far, it must work on strengthening Ukraine not only militarily, but also politically so that in the end it will be satisfied with the outcome of the negotiation process,” said the Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia and Minister of Defense. (February 13, 2025)