UKRAINE READY TO END WAR, BUT ONLY ON BASIS OF JUSTICE AND INTERNATIONAL LAW -- AMBASSADOR

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- Ukraine has reiterated that it is prepared to end the war at any time, but only based on justice, accountability and respect for international law, as it marked four years since the invasion of Ukraine during a solidarity event held here on Tuesday.

Speaking at the Standing With Ukraine: Four Years of Resilience programme, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Dr Hennadii Nadolenko, said the conflict remained existential for Ukraine, stressing that Kyiv would never agree to surrender any part of its territory despite mounting casualties and prolonged fighting.

Nadolenko said Ukraine’s position in negotiations was clear, noting that proposals to cede territory, particularly in the Donbas region, were unacceptable to the Ukrainian leadership and people.

“This war is not just about land. It is about justice, sovereignty and the future of international law. If aggression is rewarded, it will not stop with Ukraine,” he said during a press conference following the event, adding that more than 70 per cent of Ukrainians opposed giving up territory, even to secure peace.

He also highlighted Ukraine’s growing self-reliance in defence, saying domestic production of ammunition and drones had increased more than tenfold and now covered over 60 per cent of the country’s military needs, although continued international support remained crucial.

Responding to a question on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s call for Ukraine to join the European Union (EU) as early as 2027, the EU Ambassador to Malaysia, Rafael Daerr, said Ukraine’s accession process was being accelerated politically, although it still had to meet extensive technical and regulatory requirements.

He said that joining the EU was not merely a political statement, as membership involved becoming part of the single market and complying fully with the EU standards, including regulatory, security and phytosanitary rules.

“We have significantly accelerated this in the case of Ukraine because there is a mutual wish to move as quickly as possible, but it remains far more than just a political statement,” he said.

Daerr added that there can be no peace arrangement without Ukraine’s consent, and that it must be credible and sustainable, adding that the EU and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) were defensive alliances and that every country had the right to choose its own partnerships.

Germany’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Silke Riecken-Daerr, said NATO and the EU have been careful not to be drawn into the war as parties to the conflict, but continue to support countries defending their sovereignty. 

She noted that the EU and its member states have provided €200 billion in support to Ukraine since 2022.

The event was organised by the Delegation of the European Union to Malaysia together with the Embassies of Ukraine, Austria, Germany, and Poland in Malaysia.

A month-long public exhibition will be held at Level 3, GMBB Mall, Bukit Bintang, from Feb 27 to March 27, as part of the programme.

The exhibition will feature Puzzle of Unity, an interactive map showcasing Ukraine’s regions, culture and history presented by the EU; Design in Wartime, an Austrian–Ukrainian cultural project by the Embassy of Austria; an exhibition on the Russian shadow fleet by the Embassy of Germany; and The Eyes of War, a multi-documentary project presented by the Embassy of Poland.

-- BERNAMA