Peace should stop the killing, but it must also include a plan for the reintegration of the occupied territories

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković participated via video link at the "Defense and Security Strategy of Unity. Action Plan" Summit, which is being held in Kiev, on the occasion of the 3rd anniversary of the beginning of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. He once again expressed support and respect for the Ukrainian people, Ukrainian soldiers and Ukrainian leadership, who have been resisting the brutal Russian aggression and invasion of their country for the past three years. "Ukrainians have shown incredible resilience, heroism and a strong desire to defend their freedom, territory and land," he said.

In addition, Ukrainians have sent a message to the whole world that they respect the international order according to which the world has functioned for the last 80 years, international law and common values.
 
Croatia is not only a historical friend of Ukraine and Ukrainians, said the Prime Minister, but also one of those countries that found itself in a similar situation 30 years ago, facing a stronger enemy, aggression and occupation of its territory.
 
Talking about the Croatian experience in overcoming aggression, Prime Minister Plenković emphasized that we needed time to strengthen ourselves and thus equalize in power with the aggressor. This enabled the Croatian army and police to regain part of our occupied territory through military and police actions.
 
We reintegrated the remaining part of the occupied territory peacefully, he recalled, with the help of the United Nations mission in Croatia. It was the only completely successful mission of its kind in reintegration of territory and ensuring Croatian territorial integrity.
 
The Croatian experience can also be very useful for Ukraine, said the Prime Minister.
 
Only a strong Ukraine can ensure the freedom and security of its people
 
Only a strong Ukraine, economically, financially and militarily, with our joint support and continued military assistance, will be able to guarantee freedom and security of its people.
 
The peace efforts currently being discussed must be directed towards a just and comprehensive solution that will not violate the principles of international law, that is, one that will not violate Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity.
 
Peace must not be such that it leads to comments, in the wider political and media space, that it is a forced capitulation of Ukraine, he warned.
 
It must also not leave political space for Russia to declare victory.
 
In addition, it must not put Ukraine's Western partners in a position contrary to everything they have advocated for over the past three years.
 
"Peace must stop the killing, but at the same time it must include a plan for the reintegration of the occupied territories," Prime Minister Plenković said, adding that this is the only just way forward and the only way that the European Union should articulate as its strong position.
 
Prime Minister Plenković ended his address with Ukrainian national salute "Slava Ukraini!"

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