There can be no peace deal without input from Ukraine, says Tánaiste

Simon Harris: 'Any sort of peace talks, or so called peace talks, that don't have Ukraine present really lack credibility.' Photo: Sam Boal/Collins Photos

Any peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine which does not include the latter will "lack credibility", the Tánaiste has said.

Simon Harris joined EU foreign ministers on a virtual meeting on Monday ahead of a summit in Alaska on Friday between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, with Mr Trump suggesting that a peace deal could include “some swapping of territories”. 

European leaders, however, see no sign that Russia will offer anything to swap.

Speaking at Government Buildings, Mr Harris said there can be no peace deal without Ukrainian input and that its territorial integrity must be maintained.

Mr Harris said the meeting had heard from the Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister, who "reiterated what has been the long standing view of the President of Ukraine, the government of Ukraine, the people of Ukraine, that they want an end to the war but they want to be involved in the peace discussions and peace negotiations".

"Any sort of peace talks, or so called peace talks, that don't have Ukraine present really lack credibility," he said. 

"At a European level, I know we're very eager over the coming days to continue engagement between the European Union and the United States of America about the importance of involving Ukraine in any discussions about peace. 

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"Everybody wants to see this war come to an end. But of course, how peace is made also matters, and Ukraine's territorial integrity matters. Ukraine's sovereignty matters, and European security matters as well."

Mr Harris said it is important to avoid a "Putin trap" of attempting to sow division in Europe while not actually wanting peace.

In 2022, Russia illegally annexed the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in Ukraine’s east, and Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the south, even though it does not fully control them.

It also occupies the Crimean Peninsula, which it seized in 2014.