Photo by Robert Anasch on Unsplash
The EU says that Russia’s war against Ukraine is now at a critical moment.
The claim, by European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen, comes with key talks now under way between the U.S and Russia aimed at stopping the bitter war.
Back in Brussels, a meeting was held on Tuesday between the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and the US Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, General Keith Kellogg.
Afterwards, a statement was issued which reads: “The President emphasised the EU’s critical role in ensuring Ukraine’s financial stability and defence, with a total commitment of €135 billion (approximately $145 billion) — more than any other ally.”
“This includes $52 billion in military assistance, matching US contributions.”
“She outlined Europe’s plans to scale up defence production and spending, reinforcing both European and Ukrainian military capabilities.”
“President von der Leyen stressed that the EU is carrying its full share of military assistance to Ukraine and stands ready to do even more.”
It goes on, “Reaffirming the EU’s commitment to a just and lasting peace, the President reiterated that any resolution must respect Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, backed by strong security guarantees. She also expressed the EU’s willingness to work alongside the US to end the bloodshed and help secure the just and lasting peace that Ukraine and its people rightfully deserve.”
“As the President made it clear: now is a critical moment.”
The comments come after a meeting of EU leaders in Paris on Monday in which UK PM Sir Keir Starmer took part.
Separately Sir Keir has announced that he is “ready and willing” to put British troops on the ground in Ukraine to enforce any peace deal. It is the first time the Prime Minister has explicitly said he is considering deploying British peacekeepers to the country.
On the issue of UK defence spending, Professor Paul Cornish, from the University of Exeter, said: “In an increasingly volatile global security environment, the most obvious and effective contribution that the UK armed forces could make to the protection of western values and interests would be to ensure the stability of Europe and the deterrence of adversaries on its borders. “Security and defence against known and potential adversaries require more precautionary, high-risk investment and preparation than would be appropriate in other areas of public policy.”
“It would be a triumph if SDR25 could break free from the percentage GDP/affordability dogma – a triumph for the UK and a model for the rest of NATO. Rather than continue to express defence intentions in terms of a percentage of GDP, SDR25 should argue for a return to output as the best measure of a national defence effort, just as NATO should realise that, for military people, ‘targets’ mean very little if they have nothing to fire at them.”
