On Thursday 27 June in Brussels, the European Union will sign the agreement on its security commitments towards Ukraine with the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky (see EUROPE 13439/2).
The text, described as “fairly substantial” by a European source, highlights the EU’s commitments to support Ukraine in terms of security and defence, but also more broadly, for example with the EU accession process or financial and reconstruction support, as well as Ukraine’s commitments, including in terms of reforms.
The European leaders will then hold their usual face-to-face talks with Mr Zelensky. “This will be an opportunity to discuss the situation on the ground, but also take note of some achievements since our last meeting”, explained the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, in his letter of invitation to the leaders.
According to draft conclusions dated 25 June, the European Council has “reviewed work done in terms of the delivery of military support to Ukraine, where further efforts are needed”.
For Mr Michel, “It is also imperative that we intensify our military support to Ukraine, focusing on air defence, ammunition, and missiles”. The European Council is therefore expected to call for the provision of military support to Ukraine to be intensified. “Air defence systems, ammunition and missiles are urgently needed to protect Ukraine’s population and critical energy infrastructure”, European leaders will reportedly stress.
While the first munitions from the Czech initiative have arrived in Ukraine and Romania has announced that it will donate its Patriot system to Ukraine, the European Council will call for the strengthening and acceleration of initiatives concerning munitions and missiles, combat aircraft, air defence and training.
Furthermore, according to the European leaders, the EU is ready to further increase the capacity of the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine). 60,000 soldiers are expected to have been trained by the end of the year (see EUROPE 13418/1).
The heads of state or government will reportedly discuss the ‘European Peace Facility’ and the ‘Ukraine Assistance Fund’. At present, seven EU Council decisions are blocked by Hungary, representing €6.6 billion in reimbursements for the Member States.
Following the agreement reached on the use of extraordinary revenues from Russian fixed assets, the European Council is inviting the Commission, the High Representative and the EU Council to continue work to provide additional financing to Ukraine “by the end of the year in the form of loans serviced and repaid by future flows of the extraordinary revenues”. The aim, according to the leaders, is to raise around €50 billion, in collaboration with partners, to meet Ukraine’s current and future military, budget and reconstruction needs.
Looking beyond the military aspect, the European Council welcomes, in its draft conclusions, the outcome of the Ukraine Peace Summit held on 15 and 16 June 2024 in Switzerland (see EUROPE 13433/21), warning that the EU and its Member States will continue their efforts to secure the widest possible international support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, in accordance with the key principles and objectives of Ukraine’s Peace Formula.
The leaders also welcomed the outcome of the ‘Ukraine Recovery Conference’, held on 11-12 June 2024 in Berlin (see EUROPE 13429/19), and the rapid disbursement of up to €1.89 billion in pre-financing to help Ukraine recover and rebuild. Calling for urgent increased support for Ukraine’s energy sector, the European Council is expected to ask the Commission, the High Representative and the EU Council to accelerate preparations to support Ukraine through the winter.
To see the EU Council’s draft conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/ctk (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant with the editorial staff)