“Our first task here today is to confirm our steadfast support for Ukraine, to unite once again behind those values that we cherish, and to say that we will face down aggression on this continent together”, stated the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, at the European Political Community (EPC) summit he chaired on Thursday 18 July at Blenheim Palace, a monumental English palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire.
“The threat from Russia reaches right across Europe”, added the British Prime Minister, who welcomed 45 delegations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for Europeans to remain united in their support for his war-torn country. “The more effective our air defence is, the more helpless Putin will be. The fewer restrictions we have on the use of effective weapons, the more Russia will seek peace”, he said.
Contributing to bravery. The military platforms from which Russian jets take off with bombs, “all this must be destroyed. This will not only eliminate some targets but will also reduce Russia’s capability to continue this war”, he argued. “I appeal to all (...) leaders who can contribute to the required bravery. And I address primarily United States, UK, France, Germany, Poland and other friends. Your bravery can be decisive for peace”, said Mr Zelensky. The President had already made this request at the NATO summit, without receiving a positive response from the Allies (see EUROPE 13451/1).
He criticised, without naming him, the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, who was present at Blenheim and who had embarked on a “peace mission” to Moscow without EU approval. “If someone is trying to solve problems behind someone else’s back, or even at someone else’s expense, why should we take that person into account?”, asked the Ukrainian President.
Viktor Orbán, for his part, felt that the other EU countries “think they can destroy the Russians militarily, which I do not believe: there is no solution to this conflict on the battlefield”. In his view, the solution lies at the negotiating table (see other news).
The Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, also disagreed. Ukraine needs “air defence, ammunition and more heavy weapons to push Russia out of its territory and put an end to Russia’s incessant attacks”, she said. “I think we’ve talked too much about defending Ukraine. Now is the time to push Russia back”, she said at the EPC summit.
Ghost fleet. The British have called for action on the ‘ghost fleet’, the ships that allow Russia to evade sanctions on Russian oil trading. “We are committed to sanctioning ships that help Russia to evade sanctions”, confirmed Keir Starmer at the end of the 4th EPC meeting. The EU has already imposed such sanctions (see EUROPE 13436/4). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)