Anti-aircraft alerts sounded in Kiev, as well as other Ukrainian cities, ahead of the start of the 24th Ukraine-European Union summit. The airstrike did not materialize in the end, but it reminded the College of European Commissioners and their teams of what the hosts do every day, who simultaneously dream of an end to the Russian invasion and strive to belong to the European club. With regard to the war, President Volodymyr Zelensky once again asked for urgent delivery of weapons. As for European integration, he said the aim is to start negotiations as soon as possible, ie later this year. The President of the European Council responded generically to the two themes: “We will not be intimidated and we will not be intimidated by the Kremlin. Because Ukraine and the EU are family.”
The lengthy 32-point joint communiqué, signed by Zelensky, Michel and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the end of the summit, came as no surprise and promised the strengthening of relations between Brussels and Kiev. Of note, however, is the European Union’s reaffirmation of its intention to use frozen Russian assets to pay war damages, “in accordance with Community and international law”, although no explanation has been given as to what steps will be taken to an amount of 300 billion euros.
The EU also reiterated “its support for President Zelensky’s peace formula” and its “commitment to actively cooperate with Ukraine on the 10-point peace plan”, which includes holding a summit on the peace formula.
“We will not be intimidated and we will not be intimidated by the Kremlin. Because Ukraine and the EU are family (…) Your future is ours, in our common European Union your destiny is our destiny.” Charles Michel
A common will was also drawn up for the establishment of an international office in The Hague to help Russia investigate the “crime of aggression” in Ukraine. The measure is halfway through the establishment of a special court with the power to prosecute the Russian leaders, as Kiev wants.
Outside of the statement, already during the press conference, von der Leyen returned to the topic of economic sanctions against Russia, whose tenth package is due to come into force on the 24th – coinciding with the anniversary of the Russian invasion. Recalling that “Russian society and economy are already paying a very high price because of sanctions”, he said these amount to about €10 billion and “will focus on technology that cannot and should not be used by the Russian war machine”. The German leader gave as an example the components used in the manufacture of drones and also said that the problem of evading sanctions will also be addressed.
Also noteworthy are two details revealed by the President of the Commission. The first, related to energy. Recalling that before Russia’s large-scale offensive, Ukraine and the EU connected power grids, von der Leyen then exported electricity from Kiev, said the EU is capable of supplying 2.2 gigawatts of electricity to Ukraine. “This is solidarity, this is the European face we want to show,” he said. And for infrastructure repair work, he announced that € 1 billion will already be made available.
“Our goal is absolutely clear: to start negotiations for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. We will not waste a single day working to bring Ukraine and the EU closer together.” Volodymyr Zelensky
On the road to European integration, the President of the Commission, who had praised his efforts in the fight against corruption the day before, was satisfied again. “Your determination to move forward is impressive. You are taking significant steps forward with all the reforms to meet the recommendations. And we must not forget that you are doing this while fighting an aggressor,” he said, although he restrained Zelensky’s momentum. The Ukrainian president does not want to miss “a single day” and wants negotiations to start later this year.
One size fits all membership
Asked about Ukraine’s proposed entry into the EU, Ursula von der Leyen recalled that the process is “merit-based”, although the trajectory varies between candidate countries. “In other words, there are no tight timelines, but there are objectives. There is no one size fits all, it depends very much on the candidate country and how it progresses.”
The President of the Commission recalled that in the spring its institution will prepare a first report on the progress of Ukraine’s accession and then send it to the Member States for evaluation. Then, in the fall, the community’s executive body will publish an extension report, covering all countries considered candidates for membership.
While the Ukrainian presidency and government are showing the ambition to be part of the European family, the Russian neighbor is preparing for a new offensive on the eastern front and not only in Bakhmut. According to Andii Yusov, a representative of military intelligence, speaking on Ukrainian television, “very active events are expected in February-March” because “Putin’s goal is to take Donbass by March”.
Zelensky told journalists that he will not give up on Bakhmut. “We will fight while we can. We consider Bakhmut our stronghold.’ The Ukrainian president hoped to achieve military goals if the delivery of weapons, “especially long-range weapons”, is accelerated. “It’s our job not to give them a chance until our army is reinforced with the right weapons.”
european checkbook
Reforms, humanitarian aid, military aid, energy, demining, reconstruction and rehabilitation of infrastructure: Brussels, which disbursed €49 billion in less than a year, will continue to help Kiev.
450 million
In addition to the EUR 18 billion in macro-financial assistance to keep the Ukrainian state apparatus functioning, of which EUR 3 billion has already been disbursed, Kiev will receive a further EUR 450 million, including EUR 305 million in support at bilateral level for continuity reforms and EUR 145 million in humanitarian aid .
750 billion
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal said he estimated the country’s reconstruction costs at between €600 and €750 billion, while an initial moment of urgent reconstruction is estimated at €17 billion. Von der Leyen announced the allocation of one billion euros for this.
30,000 soldiers
The new target of the EU military assistance mission to Ukraine is to reach 30,000 military personnel with military training on EU territory by the end of the year, the head of diplomacy Josep Borrell announced.
375 500 explosives
According to the Ukrainian government, security forces and emergency services have neutralized 375,500 explosive devices in 11 months. The EU announced €25 million for demining equipment.
Source: DN
