The leaders of the countries of the European Union announced last night that they will work to ensure the long-term security of Ukraine, reported Reuters.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also took part in the meeting of European leaders via video conference. Zelensky called on the leaders of the EU countries to start work on a new package of sanctions against Russia.
At their meeting in Brussels, European leaders again condemned Russia’s war against Ukraine and said that the EU and its member states are ready to work to ensure Ukraine’s security in the long term.
At the meeting, the leaders agreed to quickly decide what will be the form in which their countries will undertake commitments in connection with guaranteeing the security of Ukraine.
The head of the European diplomatic service, Josep Borrell, hinted to reporters that the EU could create a new fund to help Ukraine in the field of defense. In addition, Borel noted that attention should be paid to the training of Ukrainian soldiers and the modernization of the Ukrainian armed forces.
The EU’s discussion of commitments was prompted by French President Emmanuel Macron, who has long called for Europe to play a stronger role in defence.
But other member states said it remained unclear what else the bloc could add in addition to the military training and armaments it already provides to Ukraine.
The statement comes as the United States, Britain, France and Germany negotiate bilateral commitments on arms supplies, training and support to Ukraine ahead of a summit of NATO leaders in two weeks.
Ukraine is pushing for the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius to send a clear message that it will come under the alliance’s protective umbrella after the end of the war with Russia.
But the alliance seems unlikely to give any more concrete details on granting membership to Ukraine beyond a promise in 2008 that it would one day join NATO.
During his inclusion in the meeting of European leaders, Volodymyr Zelensky thanked them for the 11th package of sanctions against Russia, which was adopted earlier this month and which aims to end the circumvention of the current sanctions measures by countries and companies .
“It is important not to stop with the imposition of sanctions,” Zelensky told European leaders, according to a post on the Ukrainian president’s website.
“The fewer pauses there are, the more difficult it will be for Russia to adapt to the pressure that is placed on it, and the more difficult it will be for it to circumvent the sanctions,” the Ukrainian leader pointed out.
Zelensky also made a reference to the events of last week, related to the rebellion of the fighters from the private military company “Wagner”.
“The weaker Russia is, and the more its leaders fear rebellions and insurrections, the more they will fear irritating us. The weakness of Russia will make her safe for the rest, and her defeat will solve the problem of war.” , said Zelensky.
The leaders of 27 EU countries discussed measures to further increase the pressure on Russia. This was stated in the statement of the EU summit, released on Friday evening after the results of the first day of the meeting. The European Council discussed efforts to further increase pressure on Russia to weaken its ability to wage aggressive war, including through sanctions, their full and effective implementation and avoidance of circumvention. In this context, EU leaders “welcome the adoption of the 11th package of sanctions” against Russia. The European Council is calling on lawmakers to finalize the proposed directive on crimes and penalties for breaching EU restrictive measures as soon as possible.
Since February 2022, the EU has introduced 11 packages of sanctions against Russia because of Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine. The first 10 EU sanctions packages were direct restrictions that the EU imposed on bilateral trade, transport links and financial relations with Moscow. In the 11th package, the principle of extraterritoriality of sanctions was introduced for the first time – Brussels decided to impose sanctions on third-country companies it suspects of re-exporting sanctioned European goods to Russia or providing services such as oil transportation without reporting that the so-called price ceiling that the Group of Seven is trying to impose.
