Liz Truss warns of ‘uneasy peace’ with Ukraine giving up territory

The Foreign Secretary’s comments came as Prime Minister Boris Johnson prepared to join other NATO leaders in Madrid for a summit at which they were expected to agree on the biggest overhaul of the Western military alliance. since the end of the Cold War.

In an interview with Die Welt, La Repubblica and El Pais, Ms Truss called on the West to provide Kiev with “all the equipment”, training and “all the support we can”.

What we cannot have is an uneasy peace, where Russia is still present in Ukraine

“The consequences of Ukraine’s failure to triumph are very serious for the rest of Europe,” she said.

“What we cannot have is an uneasy peace, where Russia is still present in Ukraine; that’s not going to work.

“We know what happened in 2014 with the Minsk accords, eventually Russia regrouped and then came back for more, so we cannot allow that situation to happen again.”

Ms Truss reiterated her call for the restoration of all the land Ukraine had lost since 2014, including Crimea, something Johnson recently stopped doing when he indicated the borders would return to their state before the Russian invasion in February.

“Ultimately, I believe that all parts of Ukraine have been illegally occupied,” the foreign minister said.

“This is about what the Ukrainians want, and Volodymyr Zelensky has been very clear that they rightly want to know that it is Ukrainian territory.

“So we need to support them in that, and not try to look for an early peace settlement where they have to give up territory.”

She said it was important not only to help the Ukrainians get the country back, but also to hold Moscow accountable for war crimes and ensure that Russia is unable to show that aggression to its neighbors in the future. ”.

Asked if she was willing to accept that the West has been supporting Ukraine’s fight against the Russian invaders for perhaps a decade, she said: “We’ve been very clear, we’re in this for the long haul.

“But the more we do now, the sooner we will see Ukraine triumph.”

Asked about a possible direct confrontation with Russia in Eastern Europe, she said: “All troops must always be prepared for all eventualities.”

Ms Truss said it was “vital” to bolster defenses in the region, although she declined to give a figure for the permanent presence needed there.

“What we have seen from the horrific Russian invasion of Ukraine is permanently deteriorating security in Europe.

“And NATO’s response must increase its presence, but also make it more permanent in the region.”

Ms Truss echoed the prime minister’s warning against “any signs of fatigue or fatigue” while praising the G7’s “absolute unity” in supporting Ukraine.

On the impact of Russia’s sanctions on the economies of Western countries, with energy prices rising, she said: “The point we have to make to all our populations and this is true in Britain, the United States, Germany, the cost of our long term of not supporting Ukraine, and not guaranteeing Ukraine will win, is much, much greater.”