Swinney rejects Ukraine peace 'at any cost' as US-Kyiv talks continue

John Swinney was speaking on Monday (Jane Barlow/PA) Jane Barlow

Scotland's First Minister John Swinney has declared that peace in Ukraine cannot be achieved "at any cost," insisting that the country's territorial integrity must remain intact in any settlement. His statement on Monday comes as US and Ukrainian leaders hold talks on a potential peace deal, including reports of a proposed 15-year American security guarantee.

Swinney told the Press Association that Ukraine's borders are non-negotiable. "I think the territorial integrity of Ukraine is essential in any peace deal," he said. "It is vital that the independence and the territorial integrity of Ukraine is protected."

No Reward for Aggression

The First Minister sharply criticized any compromise that would reward Russian aggression. "I obviously want to see a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, but I don't want to see it at any cost, where an aggressor – a barbarous aggressor like Vladimir Putin – is in any way rewarded for an illegal invasion of Ukraine, because the territorial integrity of countries matters in maintaining peace and stability in the world," he explained.

The ongoing US-Ukraine negotiations face thorny territorial issues, particularly concerning the Donbas region. Reports suggest the area could become a demilitarized "free economic zone," though Kyiv continues to resist Russian control attempts in Donetsk and Luhansk.

Message to Ukrainian Refugees

Swinney also addressed the thousands of Ukrainian refugees who have arrived in Scotland since Russia's invasion. "To them, I want to say two things: first of all, they are very much in our hearts, because we know how disruptive and damaging this process has been to them and to say they are welcome," he told the Press Association.

He emphasized Scotland's continued solidarity with Ukraine. "But also to say, secondly, that we remain in solidarity with Ukraine in maintaining its independence and its territorial integrity which is vital to the peace and stability of Ukraine in the years to come," the First Minister added.

Swinney emphasized that Russia bears sole responsibility for the conflict. "This was an illegal invasion by Russia – we should never forget that point, Ukraine was not the aggressor, it was invaded by an external power and it should not have been, because the territorial integrity of Ukraine should have been respected," he said.

Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).