Plenković: Peace deal must not punish Ukraine or reward Russia

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Wednesday that any peace agreement for Ukraine must avoid punishing the victim and rewarding the aggressor.

His remarks came after attending a meeting of the so-called Coalition of the Willing — a group of European nations, along with Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, that support sending peacekeeping forces to eastern Ukraine once a peace deal is reached. Croatian authorities have repeatedly stressed they would not send Croatian soldiers.

In a post on X, Plenković said a ceasefire agreement between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin — set to meet Friday in Alaska — would be a necessary first step toward a serious peace process that includes Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders have welcomed the planned Anchorage meeting, but insist that peace in Ukraine cannot be negotiated without Ukrainian participation.

Plenković reiterated the importance of respecting international law and Ukraine’s territorial integrity, as well as providing security guarantees, continued support for Kyiv, and additional sanctions against Russia. He warned that Russia’s aggression has broader implications for European and global security, underscoring the need for a just and lasting peace.