Brussels, 06/02/2015 (Agence Europe) - US vice-president Joe Biden and the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, pointed out on Friday 6 February that the EU and the US must remain united on the question of Ukraine.
“This is a moment where the United States and Europe must stand together, stand firm. Russia cannot be allowed to redraw the map of Europe because that's exactly what they are doing,” said Joe Biden during a visit to Brussels, adding: “So we have to stand, we the United States and Europe as a whole, has to stand with Ukraine at this moment.” He explained that the country needed financial aid and support for reforms. Donald Tusk said that as close friends and partners, the EU and United States most coordinate efforts and keep up the pressure on Russia for as long as needed.
Ukraine is fighting for its survival
Joe Biden said that Ukraine was fighting for its survival and the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, keeps calling for new peace plans while his troops stream into Ukraine and he totally ignores each of the agreements signed by his country, including the Minsk peace plans.
Peace plan ahead?
After a meeting with the Ukrainian president, Petro Poroshenko on Friday 6 February, the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, and the French president, François Hollande, met the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, to present a peace plan to him. Merkel and Hollande were cautious about whether the plan would be a success. Merkel said they were committed to ending the bloodbath and bringing the Minsk agreement to life, the only peace plan so far signed by Ukrainians and pro-Russian rebels alike, but they didn't know whether they would manage to achieve a ceasefire or whether it would be possible that day or require further talks. Hollande said that everyone was aware that the first step had to be a ceasefire, but that would not be enough and a broad settlement would have to be sought. He added that he didn't want to prejudge the outcome. (CG)