European Union member states agreed on Thursday the importance of securing long-term “security commitments” with Ukraine, to help the country deter threats and improve Europe’s defense industry.
According to the conclusions of the European Council meeting, published during the early hours of today, the 27 members of the European Union (EU) “are prepared to contribute, together with their partners, to future security commitments with Ukraine.”
These commitments, which are not specified, will allow Ukraine to “defend itself in the long term, deter acts of aggression and resist destabilization efforts.”
The Council added that it would “consider without delay the modalities of this contribution.”
But there is a caveat: “These commitments will respect the defense and security policies of certain Member States and will take into account the defense and security interests of all.”
The conclusions contain references to the “illegal deportation” of Ukrainian children to Russia and Belarus, the need for the 27 to continue supporting Ukraine on a military and economic-financial level, as well as efforts to ensure the country’s post-war reconstruction. .
The European Council also “recognizes Ukraine’s commitment and substantial efforts to fulfill the required conditions” for joining the EU and encourages the country to continue on this path.
Regarding Defense, the 27 agreed that work must be done to “strengthen the technological and industrial base” of this sector and make it “more innovative, competitive and resilient”.
This will require member states to “champion the readiness and significantly improve the long-term strategy” of the European Union.
The Council also underlined the importance of completing the joint procurement of artillery and missile ammunition and urged the European Commission to submit a proposal for the European Defense Investment Programme.
In the early afternoon of Thursday, the 27th, he discussed the invasion of Russia with the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Jens Stoltenberg, who personally attended the meeting, and with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, who participated again via video conference.
It is not yet known what Stoltenberg said during the meeting, but Zelensky outlined the evolution of the counter-offensive, insisted it was time to move towards EU accession negotiations and called for more sanctions against Moscow, at a higher pace, to put even more pressure on the Kremlin.
Source: TSF
