The European Union’s head of diplomacy, Josep Borrell, announced on Monday that all the bloc’s foreign ministers would meet outside the EU’s borders for the first time, in the Ukrainian capital Kiev.
A “historic meeting of EU foreign ministers in Ukraine,” Borrell announced at “the very first meeting of the 27 Member States outside the EU.”
“Ukraine’s future lies in the EU,” Borrell emphasized.
Today I am bringing together EU Foreign Ministers in Kiev for the first ever meeting of all 27 Member States outside the EU.
Ukraine’s future lies within the EU. pic.twitter.com/1mz5gpB1qx
– Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) October 2, 2023
The meeting will take place in the “candidate country and future member of the EU”. “We are here to express our solidarity and support for the Ukrainian people,” said the High Representative for Foreign Policy of the European Union.
We are convening a historic meeting of EU Foreign Ministers here in Ukraine, a candidate country and future member of the EU.
We are here to express our solidarity and support to the Ukrainian people.https://t.co/zcv6agCcIy
– Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) October 2, 2023
EU ministers discuss military, monetary support and sanctions, says Cravinho
The head of Portuguese diplomacy is also in Kiev to take part in the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers. João Cravinho said in Kiev that the European Union meeting will discuss strengthening military, monetary support and sanctions and expressing solidarity with Ukraine.
“All 27 countries of the European Union are represented here. We will discuss strengthening military support, strengthening monetary support and strengthening sanctions and above all we will express our solidarity with Ukraine and its integration process into the European Union,” the minister said in statements in Kiev, released by RTP.
“[A reunião] It is a sign of the strongest possible commitment to Ukraine. In the case of Portugal, this comes five weeks after the president’s visit [da República] Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. For my part, there will also be an opportunity for a bilateral discussion with the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine on relations between Portugal and Ukraine, on how we can work together more and better to strengthen Portugal’s support.” he emphasized.
“A way to show the EU’s full support for Ukraine, a country at war since the Russian invasion in February last year’, the Portuguese minister emphasized in a message published on social media.
“This morning again in Kiev, now for a meeting of EU multinationals who show full solidarity with the struggle of the Ukrainian people for their sovereignty and territorial integrity. We will get: more financial support, more military support, strengthening of sanctions,” the Portuguese minister said.
Foreign Minister João Cravinho said today in Kiev that the European Union (EU) meeting will discuss the strengthening of military, monetary support and sanctions and express solidarity with Ukraine.
This morning again in Kiev, now for a meeting of multinationals that show total solidarity with the struggle of the Ukrainian people for their sovereignty and territorial integrity. We will have:
◦More financial support
◦More military support
◦Strengthening sanctions pic.twitter.com/fgNd1frRFz– João Cravinho (@JoaoCravinho) October 2, 2023
In another message, Cravinho adds that he has already participated in a tribute to those who died as a result of the war.
“The first moment was the tribute to all those who lost their lives defending their country against the barbaric Russian invasion. Their sacrifice will remain in our memories forever,” the minister wrote on the social network.
The first moment was the tribute to all those who lost their lives defending their country against the barbaric Russian invasion. Your sacrifice will remain in our memories forever. pic.twitter.com/cGyhXcCPkL
– João Cravinho (@JoaoCravinho) October 2, 2023
Regarding the victory of former Prime Minister Robert Fico’s populist Direção-Social Democracia (Smer-SSD) party, which opposes aid to Ukraine, in Slovakia’s parliamentary elections, João Cravinho said he does not believe the results of the elections will change the position of the European Union.
“In the 27 countries we are all democracies. There are periodic elections in the governments of the different countries, the European Union has a very clear, very strong tradition. I do not believe that the elections in Slovakia will change the position of the European Union,” he said.
Kiev welcomes the EU diplomacy meeting in the Ukrainian capital
The head of Ukrainian diplomacy, Dmytro Kuleba, welcomed the first meeting of European diplomacy in Kiev, which, he said, will take place “within the future borders of the European Union.”
“This is a historic event because for the first time we are meeting outside (…) the borders of the European Union (EU) – but within the future borders of the European Union,” said Dmytro Kuleba, upon receiving his signature. European Union counterparts in Kiev.
I am pleased to welcome the EU Foreign Ministers to the historic meeting in Ukraine. For the first time in history, outside the current EU borders. But also within the future boundaries. I am grateful to the European Union and personally @JosepBorrellF for the EU’s continued support to Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/xPjPVExp3S
– Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) October 2, 2023
News updated at 09:37
Source: DN
