Photo by Cas Holmes on Unsplash
European leaders met today for the European Council summit in Brussels to discuss the global security situation and Ukraine.
This comes against a backdrop of reduced support for Ukraine from the U.S, including the suspension of intelligence sharing.
Ahead of the summit on Thursday, some MEPs have been telling this site their expectations for the get together in Brussels.
They include Bas Eickhout MEP, Greens/EFA leaders.
On Thursday, he said, “Russia’s war of aggression is a deplorable attack on Ukraine and the democratic
world order. If Putin is allowed to succeed in his bloody assault against Ukrainian people and statehood, there is no way to know where he will stop.”
“We call on the EU and its member states to increase efforts to help Ukraine defend itself, hold back the march of Russia’s war and to set the conditions for a just and lasting peace on Ukraine’s terms. We reject any attempts at a deal negotiated without Ukraine, which must be at the centre of any talks. Ukraine’s future must be decided by Ukraine. There can be no discussion on the future of Europe without Europe.”
“We cannot rely on the US to act as a trustworthy partner anymore. European leaders cannot allow our continent to be carved up by a madman in Moscow and an attention craving autocrat in Mar-a-Lago.”
Further comment comes from his colleague, Terry Reintke MEP, joint leader of the Greens/EFA Group
She commented, “The EU must show leadership and take responsibility for our own security, defence and freedom into our own hands. It is time for bold and strategic action, alongside our democratic partners, the UK, Norway and Canada, to increase spending and cooperation on security and defence. This is essential to guarantee a stable and lasting peace for the people of Ukraine. Europe must strengthen our defence capabilities. EU countries should pool defence investments and joint procurement to deliver additional support to Ukraine and expand Europe’s conventional capabilities.”
“We must make full use of seized Russian frozen assets to support Ukraine’s defence. The pooling of national defence budgets and joint European borrowing for defence projects is imperative. We must move beyond the economic orthodoxy on austerity and outdated fiscal rules and support European defence, security and prosperity through joint borrowing and investments. ”
“We support the ReArm Europe initiative, but it will only work if EU member states finally work together on cooperation. Only through stronger cooperation on defence can this initiative work.”
“In the face of Russian aggression and America’s shift to autocracy we must show a united Europe. A united Europe that stands for democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights is the only way to support Ukraine and our shared future as free countries.”
