MEDIA STATEMENT 23 November 2025
To be attributed to Kateryna Argyrou, Chair of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations:
“The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) unequivocally rejects the proposed “peace deal” being pushed by the Trump administration, which rewards aggression, pressures Ukraine to surrender its sovereignty, and sets a dangerous precedent for the Indo-Pacific region.
“This shameful ‘deal’ is not a solution – it is a dangerous capitulation to tyranny and aggression.
“It would reward Putin by ceding territory not even occupied, lifting all sanctions, returning the majority of frozen Russian assets and offering no reparations for war crimes committed by Russian forces. It would betray Ukraine’s sovereignty by demanding Ukraine relinquish territory, halve its military, abandon its NATO aspirations, and ban international peacekeepers. History has shown us Putin will not stop with just a part of Ukraine – he will continue to push for more. This ‘deal’ paves the way, ensuring further war and instability.
“The proposed ‘deal’ is nothing short of a gut-wrenching betrayal of those who have bravely fought to protect their families and homes. Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, its denial of Ukraine’s existence as a nation, and its ongoing campaign of mass atrocities and attacks must be recognised as immoral and illegal and should not be excused or condoned.
“One of the most alarming aspects of the proposed peace ‘deal’ is the precedent it sets: that borders and sovereignty can be altered by force, and international law can be disregarded. If accepted, it will embolden autocratic regimes like Russia and China. Australia relies on a peaceful rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific, so it should know that what happens in Ukraine will matter greatly for the future stability of our region.
“The AFUO calls on the Australian government to stand with fellow democracies, help protect the rules-based world order, and fight for a fair, durable peace plan which protects Ukraine’s legitimate interests. We urge the Albanese Government to join our allies, including the UK, Germany, France, Japan and Canada, who overnight released a statement supporting Ukraine and the principle that ‘borders must not be changed by force’. Now is the time to stand with Ukraine, not betray it.”
