Only united Europe can be strong Europe

I have been following with concern the developments related to the efforts for peace in Ukraine. At the beginning of the Russian aggression in Ukraine, European countries stood together with Ukraine to protect its territorial integrity. This has always been emphasised by Slovenia, in line with its national interest to safeguard the territorial integrity of states, sovereign equality and respect for international law in general. By their support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and the unacceptability of resolving conflicts by armed conflict instead of peacefully, European countries have also shown that unity strengthens their weight in international relations. 

Only a united Europe can be a strong Europe and thus an equal player in international relations. Only a Europe that commands respect around the world as a political, military, economic and ethical actor is capable of guaranteeing (human) security at home. And only such a Europe can be confident in international relations.

Unfortunately, this unity has been gradually eroding. Despite the fact that most European countries have stood by Ukraine throughout and still do, Europe has become vulnerable. The new US administration is aware of this, otherwise it would not have made such a bold announcement to bring peace to Ukraine without the help of European countries, without also respecting the fundamental principles of international law on friendly relations between states and with specific transactions that could hurt the Ukrainian people even more.

In this sense, I regret that, in the efforts to bring peace to Ukraine, the wrong messages are coming from Europe. In fact, the leaders of all European countries or EU Member States will not be taking part in the extraordinary Summit on Ukraine. At a symbolic level, the conveners of the Paris Summit are thus demonstrating to the world that even in Europe, countries are not treated equally. This is not in the spirit of the European integration process. This is not the Europe we are striving for. This is not a Europe that is respected in the world. This is not a Europe that is a worthy partner to a North American ally.

It is precisely in these difficult times, when the strength and unity of Europe is being severely tested, that any presence, even symbolic, of all European countries at the summits, in the forums where war and peace are decided, is indispensable. Already at the Paris Summit, this should be the case.