Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on European leaders to send more weapons to his country in his speech to the European Council on Thursday 23 March.
In particular, Zelensky called for the speeding up of missile deliveries, praising the Europeans for “actively participating in the initiative” to provide Ukraine with one million rounds of ammunition within 12 months (see EUROPE 13145/1). “While every hour on the battlefield counts, the protraction in supplying long-range missiles to Ukraine is already significant”, he stressed. The Ukrainian President called on the EU27 to continue their military support by providing modern fighter aircraft, thanking Poland and Slovakia for their decision to supply Ukraine with MiGs.
In response, in their conclusions, EU leaders recall that the EU and Member States “are increasing their efforts to help meet Ukraine’s pressing military and defence needs [...] (and) welcome the agreement in the Council to urgently deliver ground-to-ground and artillery ammunition to Ukraine”.
“Ammunition may seem insignificant when we are talking about very advanced weapons systems, but it is absolutely crucial for Ukraine’s ability to resist Russian offensives and to conduct its own offensives“, said the Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson.
Mr Zelensky also called for the strengthening of sanctions against the Kremlin and its supporters, saying there “cannot be even a slight hint of delaying decisions” and no relaxation of measures “especially under the manipulative cover of food security”.
The European Council conclusions state that the EU remains committed to maintaining and increasing collective pressure on Russia, “including through possible further restrictive measures, and to continue working on the oil price cap together with partners”. The European Council also emphasised the need to ensure effective implementation of sanctions and to combat their circumvention.
The Lithuanian President, Gitanas Nausėda, acknowledged that after ten packages of sanctions there was a “certain weariness” and that this slowed down the debate. “In addition to the 11th package, the issue of circumventing sanctions is becoming a headache” he added, explaining that Russia was finding ways to circumvent sanctions faster than the Europeans were finding an “antidote” for this.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, explained that the 11th sanctions package would focus on the fight against sanctions circumvention.
The Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa, said that the Europeans must preserve the conditions so that all other partner countries, “namely African and Latin American countries”, do not suffer undesirable collateral consequences from European sanctions.
Zelensky also referred to his peace plan. Stressing that it would be complicated to bring many leaders to Kyiv for a dedicated summit, he suggested that it could be held in one of the European capitals. “Wouldn’t this add to Europe’s global strength? It surely will”, he stressed.
In addition, he called for progress in his country’s EU accession process.
EU leaders also “took note” of the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Commissioner for Children’s Rights for the war crime of illegally deporting and transferring Ukrainian children to Russia.
Recalling that the Commission and Poland had launched an initiative to bring them home, Ms von der Leyen announced that a conference would be organised on the subject. These deportations are a “horrific reminder of the darkest period in history”, the Commission President stressed. For the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, these kidnappings are “sickening acts”.
To see the conclusions of the European Council: https://aeur.eu/f/5zy (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant with the editorial staff)