The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, expressed his “deep concern” to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday 15 April about the ongoing large build-up of Russian military forces on Ukraine’s border and in illegally annexed Crimea (see EUROPE 12697/3 and related news).
“Such large-scale military movements represent threatening and destabilising activities”, he said during a phone call with Mr Zelensky. Mr Michel reiterated the EU’s “unwavering” support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity in its internationally recognised borders.
For his part, the Ukrainian President said that “a decisive and adequate reaction on the part of the international community is a guarantee of preventing further escalation and saving lives”.
The President of the European Council reiterated his call on Russia to uphold the principles and commitments of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) regarding transparency of military movements.
With the French President, the German Chancellor and the Ukrainian President meeting on 16 April, Mr Michel reiterated the EU’s “full” support for the efforts of the Normandy Format and the Trilateral Contact Group. He called for the full implementation of the Minsk Agreements “as the way forward towards a lasting settlement”.
The ministers of Foreign Affairs of the EU will discuss the situation in Ukraine on Monday 19 April during their video conference and will exchange views with their Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba. They might also discuss the adoption of additional measures against Russia.
In addition – while the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, declined the invitation – Mr Michel agreed to attend the Crimea Platform Summit scheduled for 23 August, stating that he was “looking forward to attending”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)