Borrell: EU must do more to support Ukraine

2024-01-22 22:22:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The head of foreign policy, Josep Borrell, said that the foreign ministers of the European Union, during the meeting in Brussels on January 22, agreed that now is not the time to reduce aid to Ukraine.

"On the contrary, we need to do more and faster in terms of financial resources, military equipment, military training and all the defense that Ukraine needs. We will continue to work to design this assistance," said Borrell during the press conference after the meeting.

He also announced that he plans to visit Ukraine in the second week of February, but did not give a specific date for his visit, or with whom he plans to meet.

The agenda of this year's first meeting of EU foreign ministers included the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Defending Ukraine against an invasion launched by Russia remains a priority for the EU, Borrell said before the meeting in Brussels, adding that conflicts in the Middle East will not distract the bloc.

Ukraine "is the first item on the agenda", said Borrell before the meeting. "The fact that we are involved in seeking a solution for the Middle East does not mean that we will not continue to support Ukraine," he said.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said that his country is relying on rapid steps during the first quarter of this year regarding the opening of negotiations for EU membership. He also called on the bloc to increase arms supplies and approve a long-term support program for Kiev.

The war between Israel and Hamas - the Palestinian group designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the EU - has been the focus of Brussels since the war began on October 7, after Hamas attacked southern Israel.

While the EU has said Ukraine remains a priority, several member states have made statements in recent months, raising questions about whether such support should continue. Before the meeting in Brussels, the Hungarian Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto, criticized the "pro-war party in Brussels" for asking to provide military aid to Ukraine in the amount of 5 billion dollars.

Meanwhile, Slovakia has warned that it will veto if Ukraine decides to join NATO, because according to the Prime Minister of this country, Robert Fico, membership in the Western military alliance of Kiev would mean "nothing but the basis for the Third War World"./ Rel