The heads of state or government of the European Union Member States will meet on Friday 7 October in Prague for an informal summit where the situation in Ukraine will be discussed once again (see EUROPE 13034/1).
The meeting, at which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will speak by video conference, comes days after the annexation by Russia of four Ukrainian regions (see EUROPE 13033/13).
“The Kremlin has taken irresponsible escalatory steps. It has organised a national mobilisation campaign, sham coercive ‘referenda’ and the illegal annexation of Ukraine’s territories. And it pursues its threatening rhetoric”, underlines the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, in his invitation letter.
According to draft conclusions, which could be an oral declaration by Mr Michel, the leaders could state that “Russia’s latest escalation endangers European peace and security” and recall the EU’s firm rejection and unequivocal condemnation of Russia’s illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory. “We will never recognise this illegal annexation or the sham referenda Russia uses to justify it”, the leaders are expected to warn, adding that Moscow’s unilateral decisions do not give Russia a legitimate basis for any further action on Ukraine’s territory.
According to Mr Michel, in view of these developments, the EU27 must stand “united and firm in their response”.
While EU ambassadors agreed on new sanctions against Russia (see other news), leaders are expected to discuss continued support for Ukraine, particularly military and financial.
According to an EU source, they could discuss the model for long-term financial assistance to Kyiv, which the country needs, as European resources are not inexhaustible. This discussion will take place ahead of the conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine, scheduled for 25 October in Berlin.
On the military side, according to a European source, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs is preparing new tranches of aid under the European Peace Facility.
The EU27 could also call for the continuation of the UN Black Sea Grain Initiative, according to the draft declaration. “In parallel, the EU will continue to maximise exports of Ukrainian crops and other products through solidarity lanes to facilitate global access to agricultural products and fertilisers for those countries that need them most”, the text says.
EU leaders will also discuss how best to protect critical infrastructure in the EU. According to the draft declaration, they will strongly condemn acts of sabotage against the Nord Stream pipelines, warning that “any deliberate disruption of European infrastructure will be met with a united and determined response”. The EU Council will reportedly be asked to strengthen cooperation on the protection of European critical infrastructure. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)