PACE resolution says Kyiv must enter peace talks with Moscow from position of strength

Negotiations with Russia to end the war soon approaching its fourth year can only happen from a position of strength and resilience, backed by Ukraine’s strong defense capabilities, according to a resolution adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on Jan. 30. 

The resolution passed in Strasbourg with 86 votes in favor, none against, and six abstentions.  

“A just and lasting peace can only be secured by adequate security guarantees for Ukraine,” the 46-nation international organization said.  

Titled “European commitment to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine”, the resolution outlines PACE’s position on achieving peace. It is the most significant Ukraine-related document adopted during the Assembly’s 2025 winter session, European Pravda reports.  

“Any peace negotiations must involve Ukraine and respect its right to determine its own future,” the resolution affirms, repeatedly emphasizing the principle of “peace through strength.”  

PACE also condemned Russia’s actions beyond Ukraine, highlighting its asymmetric warfare tactics against other nations.  

“Hybrid warfare tactics employed by the Russian Federation through cyber-attacks, arson, disinformation campaigns and sabotage further threaten European security, including its energy and communications infrastructure,” the document says.  

The resolution underscores that a just and lasting peace in Ukraine is “indispensable for the security of the entire European continent and more broadly, the world.”  

It also calls for unwavering European unity in supporting Ukraine and ensuring accountability for Russia’s aggression. 

PACE also stressed the need to establish a method for Moscow and Minsk to provide reparations to Ukraine and establish a special tribunal to prosecute Russian and Belarusian leaders for crimes of aggression against Ukraine.