EU summit promises to arm Ukraine and refrains from calling for cease-fire

EU summit promises to arm Ukraine and refrains from calling for cease-fire

EU summit pledges to arm Ukraine and refrains from calling for cease-fire. 

 

The draft decision of the European Union leaders' summit, which will begin on May 30, pledges to continue arming and financing Ukraine amid Russia's "atrocities, suffering and destruction."

 

The draft document was reviewed by EUobserver.

 

"The European Union is firmly committed to helping Ukraine exercise its inalienable right to self-defense against Russian aggression," reads the proposed document, which is being finalized by EU ambassadors.

 

EU leaders also welcome any new legal "measures to confiscate" Russian assets in the EU and explore "options aimed at using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine's reconstruction."

 

They will criticize Russian President Putin's use of food to seek an easing of EU sanctions in exchange for allowing Ukraine to ship grain to world markets through its ports.

 

"The European Council strongly condemns Russia's destruction and misappropriation of agricultural production in Ukraine and calls for the creation of new land routes, in particular to the Baltic, Black and Adriatic seas," the draft decision reads.

 

The publication notes that the draft summit declaration is tougher in its rhetoric than some member states wanted.

 

In particular, Italy, Hungary and Cyprus also insisted on an EU statement calling for an immediate ceasefire. But the latest draft decision makes no mention of this, amid resistance from Poland and the Baltic states to any concessions to Moscow.

 

The draft places a strong emphasis on the criminality of Russia's actions.

 

"Russia, Belarus and all perpetrators will be held accountable for their actions in accordance with international law," the document says.

 

On the other hand, the draft says nothing about the procrastination of the EU with the adoption of the sixth sanctions package, blocked by Hungary because of oil issues.

 

At the same time, EU leaders plan to take an even tougher stance on circumventing sanctions and declare "the speedy abolition of the European Union's dependence on Russian imports of gas, oil and coal."

 

They will also declare increased "preparedness for possible serious supply disruptions and the sustainability of the EU gas market" by accelerating "the filling of storage facilities for next winter.

 

The declaration also does not give Ukraine any indication of its official recognition as an EU candidate country. The leaders will simply "take note" of its application for membership and note that they will "return to this issue at the June meeting. 





EU summit pledges to arm Ukraine and refrains from calling for cease-fire. 

 

The draft decision of the European Union leaders' summit, which will begin on May 30, pledges to continue arming and financing Ukraine amid Russia's "atrocities, suffering and destruction."

 

The draft document was reviewed by EUobserver.

 

"The European Union is firmly committed to helping Ukraine exercise its inalienable right to self-defense against Russian aggression," reads the proposed document, which is being finalized by EU ambassadors.

 

EU leaders also welcome any new legal "measures to confiscate" Russian assets in the EU and explore "options aimed at using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine's reconstruction."

 

They will criticize Russian President Putin's use of food to seek an easing of EU sanctions in exchange for allowing Ukraine to ship grain to world markets through its ports.

 

"The European Council strongly condemns Russia's destruction and misappropriation of agricultural production in Ukraine and calls for the creation of new land routes, in particular to the Baltic, Black and Adriatic seas," the draft decision reads.

 

The publication notes that the draft summit declaration is tougher in its rhetoric than some member states wanted.

 

In particular, Italy, Hungary and Cyprus also insisted on an EU statement calling for an immediate ceasefire. But the latest draft decision makes no mention of this, amid resistance from Poland and the Baltic states to any concessions to Moscow.

 

The draft places a strong emphasis on the criminality of Russia's actions.

 

"Russia, Belarus and all perpetrators will be held accountable for their actions in accordance with international law," the document says.

 

On the other hand, the draft says nothing about the procrastination of the EU with the adoption of the sixth sanctions package, blocked by Hungary because of oil issues.

 

At the same time, EU leaders plan to take an even tougher stance on circumventing sanctions and declare "the speedy abolition of the European Union's dependence on Russian imports of gas, oil and coal."

 

They will also declare increased "preparedness for possible serious supply disruptions and the sustainability of the EU gas market" by accelerating "the filling of storage facilities for next winter.

 

The declaration also does not give Ukraine any indication of its official recognition as an EU candidate country. The leaders will simply "take note" of its application for membership and note that they will "return to this issue at the June meeting.