The Ukrainian people are paying the highest price for Russia's war, but the price of appeasement will be even higher. That is why the world needs real peace, not peace at any cost.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha said this during his speech at the US Helsinki Commission hearing dedicated to the 1000 days of resistance of the Ukrainian people to full-scale Russian aggression.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed that Ukraine will not accept any initiatives that involve compromises on sovereignty or territorial integrity.

‘When facing such a brutal and lawless regime as Putin’s Russia, there can be no alternative to peace through strength. Ukraine will not accept any initiatives that suggest compromises on our sovereignty or territorial integrity. We will not accept any initiatives developed without our participation. Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine,’ he emphasised.

The Minister also noted that there is no alternative to the Victory Plan proposed by President Zelenskyy. According to him, Russia shows no intention of restoring peace, but instead continues to speak the language of ultimatums and attack Ukraine day and night.

‘We in Ukraine know that in a situation of an existential fight for life, there is no half-solution. Half-measures only bring half-results. And in life-or-death situations, a half-solution is death, not life. The situation in Ukraine is not just conflict between two states, it’s an aggression of one state against another. There can be no alternative to the Peace Formula and the restoration of a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine and the world,’ the Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed.

Andrii Sybiha underlined that only strong and decisive steps will force the aggressor to agree to a just peace. In this context, he called on the allies to raise the price of war for Putin to a level where it becomes clear that the aggression cannot be continued.

The Minister also strongly rejected any proposals for a land-for-peace deal. According to him, such ideas will only mean that millions of people will remain in the hands of the aggressor and will be subjected to genocide, torture and abuse.

‘Rewarding Russia with territorial gains will not restore peace, but instead provoke further aggression. This is appeasement, not peace. Appeasement has never worked in the past and it will not work now,’ he said.

Concluding his speech, Andrii Sybiha called on the partners to remain united and strong, to act together to protect the common values enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act and other key international documents.