During his opening remarks at the last meeting of the National Coordinators of the Central European Initiative under the Serbian Presidency in Belgrade on 25 November 2025 – a meeting held on the eve of the CEI Ministerial Meeting scheduled for tomorrow – Secretary General Franco Dal Mas took the opportunity to address the Russian aggression against Ukraine:
“Now, with negotiations under way, I believe there is consensus on one fundamental point: the end of the war cannot mean a surrender of Ukraine, and, therefore, of Europe.
Peace must respect human rights, the rule of law, and the territorial and political sovereignty of Ukraine and its people. A quick fix cannot come at the expense of justice and stability. Peace must be fair, safe, and based on the founding principles of the European Union,” he said.
He also recalled what was conveyed to him during his recent visit by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, regarding the dramatic situation of Ukrainian children taken from their families as a result of the Russian aggression.