On Thursday 19 January, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel called for tanks to be sent to Ukraine, while Germany has not yet given its permission to send Leopard 2 tanks.
“The coming weeks and months will be decisive. You need more. More air defence systems, more long-range missiles and ammunition and, most of all, you need tanks. Right now”, Michel stressed in a speech to the Verkhovna Rada in Kyiv. He recalled that since the beginning of the war, the EU and the Member States had mobilised €11 billion in military support.
Recalling that Ukraine had been granted candidate status for EU membership in June, Mr Michel said that “no effort” should be spared to turn this promise into reality “as fast as we can”, dreaming that “soon” a Ukrainian would occupy his post, that of President of the Commission or the European Parliament.
The President of the European Council also supported President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s initiative on the 10-point peace plan and called for accountability. “All those responsible - without exception - must and will be held accountable. Accountable to the principles of international law and accountable to all victims”, he promised.
Mr Michel will again visit Ukraine for the EU-Ukraine summit in Kyiv on 3 February.
EU denounces Lavrov’s remarks
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service denounced comments by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accusing “the West” of seeking a “final solution” for Russia. “These comments are entirely misplaced, disrespectful and trample on the memory of the six million Jewish people, and other victims, who were systematically murdered in the Holocaust”, he said in a statement, adding that the Russian regime’s manipulation of the truth to justify its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine had reached a “another unacceptable and despicable low point”.
According to the spokesperson, there is no parallel between the crimes of Nazi Germany and the international assistance given to Ukraine to defend its territory and people against unjustified aggression. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)