Ukraine defends both European values and European freedom; Peace must be both just and lasting

In a joint press statement after today's meeting in Banski Dvori, the Prime Ministers of Croatia and Ukraine, Plenković and Shmyhal, addressed the expectations from peace initiatives in Ukraine. They emphasized that peace must not be just any kind, but must be just and respect the fundamental principles of territorial integrity and Ukraine's right to freedom and reintegration of its illegally occupied and annexed territories. Therefore, Croatian experience of peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube region is the greatest benefit that Croatia can convey to Ukraine in a political, diplomatic and international sense. It is necessary to achieve peace that will lead to the territorial integrity of Ukraine, because anything else would be a defeat not only for Ukraine, but also for everyone else.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković met today with the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, who is on his first official visit to Croatia. The Ukrainian Prime Minister's visit follows visits by the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Stefanchuk and the President of Ukraine Zelensky.
 
"All three leaders of Ukraine have visited Croatia in these difficult circumstances of Russian aggression since February 2022," the Croatian Prime Minister pointed out.
 
He reported that they discussed bilateral relations and support for Ukraine on its way to the European Union.
 
They also talked about the expectations from peace initiatives, President Zelensky's peace formula and expectations from the new administration of President Trump with the aim of achieving a just peace that will adhere to the principle of territorial integrity of Ukraine and Ukraine's right to freedom and reintegration of its territories that were illegally occupied and even annexed.
 
Croatian political support for Ukraine is firm and consistent, Prime Minister Plenković said.
 
"The Government of the Republic of Croatia supports Ukraine in all international forums, it supports it bilaterally, economically, humanitarianly, technically and militarily. We will continue this support because we believe that it is the only correct policy of the country that was itself a victim of the aggression of the Great Serbian Milošević about thirty years ago," he emphasized. 
 
Croatia to host international conference on care for Ukrainian war veterans
 
Croatian support activity, he added, is not only bilateral but also has its multilateral and international dimension.
 
In this context, he recalled that in 2022 Croatia hosted the international parliamentary conference of the Crimea Platform, in 2023 the first international conference on humanitarian demining of Ukraine, and in 2024 a meeting of the leaders of Southeast Europe with the President of Ukraine Zelensky.
 
Such support will continue this year, he announced, when Croatia will host an international conference on war veteran care, in which Croatia will offer its experience to Ukraine.
 
A large number of Ukrainian veterans have already been rehabilitated in Croatian health institutions and veterans' centers.
 
We want to offer the experience of their health and social rehabilitation, but also of their inclusion in life activities after the conflict, which is particularly important, the Prime Minister emphasized.
 
Support at all stages of the negotiation process for Ukraine's membership in the EU
 
Speaking about the progress of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union, Prime Minister Plenković emphasized Croatia's great support in that area as well.
 
Ukraine wants to move into a more concrete phase of the accession process during the Polish presidency after screening European legislation.
 
Croatia, he added, has supported Ukraine in all phases - both in its membership application, in obtaining candidate status, and in making the decision to open negotiations, and wants it to continue that process as quickly as it has so far.
 
During his stay in Zagreb, the Prime Minister of Ukraine will also address the members of the Croatian Parliament, and Prime Minister Plenković assessed that this is particularly important for the Croatian public in order to understand the context of Ukraine today.
 
Later in the afternoon, the two Prime Ministers will also meet with Croatian businessmen, who are an important component of overall relations.
 
The Prime Minister announced that the Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation would meet soon in order to improve trade exchange and mutual investments in a number of sectors that contribute to the development of both countries.
 
Croatian government will provide another, 12th package of military aid to Ukraine
 
The two prime ministers also discussed the overall support of the European Union today.
 
Prime Minister Plenković recalled that at this time last year, at the European Council meeting during the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework, a decision was made on support in the amount of 50 billion euros for a period of four years.
 
These funds, he added, help the economic, social and financial bloodstream of Ukraine.
 
At the next session, the Croatian Government will, he announced, decide on another package of military aid to Ukraine, which will be the 12th package in total.
 
"In all aspects of our cooperation, we stand with the Ukrainian people and their desire not only to protect themselves, but also the principles of freedom. With their struggle, they are also protecting Croatia," said Prime Minister Plenković, stating that Ukraine is not looking for Croatian soldiers, contrary to the manipulations that have been taking place in the media.
 
Croatia's experience of peaceful reintegration can lead to a just solution
 
Ukraine, he pointed out, is looking for both economic and military support in order to defend itself and its territory, and it is only 400 kilometers from Croatia to Ukraine. Any eventual failure of Ukraine would be a major security risk for other European countries, he warned.
 
He therefore expressed support for peace efforts and recalled Croatia's experiences with the peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube region, which is a unique example of a successful United Nations operation in Europe after 1945.
 
"This experience can be one of the links that will lead to a just peace and a just solution, because just any ceasefire, followed by some kind of peace agreement or a frozen conflict that would leave the situation as it is, would reward the aggressor and deprive the victim of the right to have their own territory," he said.
 
He added that Croatia also supports the new package of sanctions against Russia that was adopted at the European Union level.
 
Shmyhal: Together we are writing the history of Europe - a Europe of development, a democratic Europe
 
The Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, thanked the Croatian Government and the Croatian people for their assistance to Ukraine in all aspects.
 
"We greatly appreciate your solidarity and our friendship," he said, adding that Croatia and Ukraine have a similar path because Croatia knows very well what it is to be a victim of aggression.
 
Ukraine, Shmyhal said, is experiencing terror and wants peace, and Croatia knows very well how important a just and lasting peace is.
 
He thanked the Croatian Government for bringing another, 12th package of military assistance to Ukraine, as well as for assistance in demining, the energy sector, humanitarian aid and care for Ukrainian veterans.
 
Croatia's experience with the peaceful reintegration of occupied territories, in caring for war veterans, in demining, but also on the path to membership in NATO and the European Union, is very important for Ukraine, he stressed.
 
"Together we are writing the history of Europe - a Europe of development, a democratic Europe," he said, emphasizing the aspirations towards a just peace for Ukraine.

News