B4Ukraine — an international coalition of 100 civil society organizations — reaffirms that the only meaningful path to peace is one that protects people, upholds justice, and restores Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Peace must be grounded in human dignity and international law, not in coerced compromises or geopolitical expedience.
Following recent political developments — including the withdrawal of the previously leaked 28-point plan and renewed discussions on alternative frameworks — we underscore that no new proposal should replicate or repackage conditions that reward aggression or undermine Ukraine’s future security. Past proposals failed precisely because they disregarded the lived experiences of Ukrainians and ignored the structural drivers of Russia’s war.
A Human-Centred Peace Requires Firm, Non-Negotiable Principles
• To be legitimate, any peace initiative must be built around the needs and rights of the people most affected — Ukrainians. This requires:
• No territorial concessions. Ukraine’s borders are internationally recognized, and ceding territory would expose more communities to occupation, repression, and mass atrocities.
• A complete, unconditional ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian troops and heavy weapons to verifiable safe distances.
• No asymmetric military constraints placed solely on Ukraine — measures that would entrench vulnerability, not peace.
• Respect for Ukraine’s sovereign choices, including its democratic right to choose its alliances and security guarantees.
• Justice and accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Peace without justice would entrench impunity and enable future atrocities.
• Full reparations funded by the aggressor, not by Ukrainian civilians or Western taxpayers.
Any diplomatic effort that deviates from these principles simply institutionalizes violence and instability.
A Peace That Lasts Requires Defunding and Disarming Russia’s War Machine
A central lesson of the past decade is that peace cannot be separated from the economic architecture that enables Russia’s aggression. Therefore, a credible peace must include decisive measures to:
• Cut off Russia’s access to Western technology, components, and services that fuel its military-industrial complex.
• Eliminate the energy revenues — especially from fossil fuels — that remain the financial backbone of Russia’s war economy.
• Ensure strict sanctions enforcement, closing loopholes exploited by intermediaries, subsidiaries, shell companies, and permissive jurisdictions.
• Hold Western companies accountable. More than 2,000 firms continue operating in Russia, providing tax revenues, supply chains, and legitimacy that prolong the war. Their ongoing presence materially delays peace and fuels further crimes.
For B4Ukraine, this is not abstract policy — it is the most direct, non-military pathway to reducing Russia’s capacity to harm civilians and destabilize the region.
Peace Must Be Built With Ukraine and With Europe — Never Over Ukraine
A just peace cannot be designed in a closed room between great powers. It must:
• Be co-created with Ukraine, including its civil society and victim-led organizations.
• Fully involve European partners, who will bear long-term security and reconstruction responsibilities.
• Reflect global democratic values and reinforce international law, rather than undermine it through backroom compromises.
The credibility of any peace process depends on whether it treats Ukraine as an equal partner whose security, sovereignty, and agency are non-negotiable.
Our Calls
B4Ukraine calls on the United States, the European Union, G7 members, and all democratic partners to:
Reject any revived or rebranded proposal that undermines Ukraine’s sovereignty, legitimizes territorial conquest, or abandons accountability.
Publicly reaffirm that peace negotiations must be human-centred — grounded in justice, security, and the free will of Ukrainians.
Increase coordinated pressure on Russia, including strengthened sanctions, enforcement, and comprehensive action against sanctions evasion networks.
Accelerate the defunding of Russia’s war economy, especially through:
- an embargo on fossil fuel revenues,
- ending Western corporate complicity, and
- blocking dual-use technology flows.
Expand military, economic, and humanitarian support to ensure Ukraine can defend its people and negotiate from a position of strength, not coercion.
Commit to a long-term European and transatlantic architecture that guarantees Ukraine’s security, reconstruction, and integration.
Peace is urgently needed. But peace must protect people, prevent further atrocities, and dismantle the structures that enable aggression. Anything less risks repeating the abuses of the past and inviting greater global instability.