VILNIUS, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Any agreement between the United States and Russia on Ukraine must uphold the country's sovereignty, the Speaker of the Lithuanian parliament Saulius Skvernelis said on Tuesday.
Skvernelis was speaking after a phone call with Ruslan Stefanchuk, chairman of the Ukrainian parliament, ahead of the upcoming meeting between U.S. and Russian leaders in Alaska. At this meeting, leaders are expected to discuss a possible ceasefire in Ukraine, the Baltic News Service (BNS) reported.
"Any agreement between the U.S. and Russia reached in Alaska must uphold Ukraine's sovereignty," Skvernelis said.
He emphasized that he shares the position of the speakers of the Latvian and Estonian parliaments, who have said that any agreement reached during the talks in Alaska or thereafter must unequivocally uphold Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity, constitution, and the principles enshrined in the United Nations (UN) Charter, while Ukrainian citizens must be involved in decisions concerning their country.
"Diplomatic solutions cannot be achieved at Ukraine's expense, but only with its full involvement and consent, with a view to achieving long-term peace based on international law," Skvernelis said during the call with Stefanchuk.
Skvernelis and Stefanchuk discussed a joint declaration on the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine signed on Tuesday by the speakers of the Lithuanian, Estonian, and Latvian Parliaments. ■
