During his opening remarks at the last Committee of National Coordinators’ meeting (CNC) under the Serbian Presidency in Belgrade on 25 November 2025 – held on the eve of the CEI Ministerial Meeting scheduled for tomorrow – Secretary General Franco Dal Mas addressed the Russian aggression against Ukraine:
“Now, with negotiations underway, 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 to Kyiv, by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha, regarding the dramatic situation of Ukrainian children taken from their families as a result of the Russian aggression.