The European Union (EU) and Ukraine agreed on Friday on the need to continue providing military support to Kiev and to hold Russia accountable for crimes committed on Ukrainian territory and for the country’s reconstruction.
The summit between the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, (representing the 27 Member States) and the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, led to a joint statement declaring the priorities to extend “political and military support for as long as necessary”.
“This included EUR 3.6 billion in military assistance under the European Peace Mechanism and the launch of the EU Military Assistance Mission to train 30,000 soldiers in a first phase by 2023”reads the joint statement, divided into 32 points.
Part of the statement is devoted to the desire of the community bloc and Kiev to make Russia pay twice: for all the war crimes committed since February 24 and for the reconstruction of the country, which has been hit by bombing and fighting many times in urban areas.
The document includes a commitment to hold Mosocovo officials accountable “for the gross violation of international law”.
“Ukraine emphasized the preference for the establishment of a special court. We support the development of an international center for the prosecution of the crime of aggression in Ukraine in The Hague [Países Baixos] for coordinating the investigation of the crime of aggression against Ukraine, preserving and preserving evidence for future trials. The Center will be associated with the Joint Investigation Team supported by Eurojust [Agência da União Europeia para a Cooperação em Justiça Criminal]”will be added.
It is also the intention of Brussels and Kiev to find ways to make the Kremlin pay for the destruction of critical infrastructure, homes, hospitals, schools, roads, government buildings destroyed by war.
Von der Leyen has repeatedly said that they will not shy away from “making the criminal pay and accountable”.
The maintenance of humanitarian and financial support, the intention to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency to protect the Zaporizh Nuclear Power Plant and to reach a peace agreement that meets the demands of Kiev, in particular the withdrawal of all Russian troops from Ukrainian territory, including the annexed zones, are also explained in this statement.
Source: DN
