The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, once again called for increased support for Ukraine during a visit to the country from 9 to 11 November.
This “unwavering [EU] support is absolutely necessary” for the country to continue to defend itself against Russian aggression, and must be stepped up, Mr Borrell stressed during his meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha.
“The important thing is to supply tanks, fighter planes [...], air defences and munitions. You can’t fight a war without ammunition. You can’t wage war without the military capability you need. And I’ve always insisted that there should be more and faster. This is my permanent appeal”, said Mr Borrell. He went on to emphasise that: “More military support, more training capabilities, more money, faster supplies and also permission to strike at the enemy’s military targets on its territory. It’s not enough to stop the arrows, you have to attack the archers”. We need “fewer self-imposed red lines”, according to the High Representative.
Referring to the presence of North Korean soldiers in the region, Mr Borrell called for strong pressure to be exerted on Pyongyang to ensure that its presence did not increase.
While Donald Trump has boasted of being able to resolve the conflict in 24 hours, Mr Borrell explained that the EU was supporting Ukraine’s diplomatic efforts through the peace formula, “the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace”. “It is up to Ukraine to decide when to sit down at the negotiating table and on what terms”, said Mr Borrell, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not negotiate unless forced to do so.
The High Representative felt that Russia should pay for its actions. “We have €300 billion in frozen Russian assets that could be used to pay for accountability, compensation for those who suffer and for the destruction caused by the Russian invasion. It shouldn’t be free”, he warned.
Mr Borrell also called for measures against circumventing sanctions to be stepped up, “because Russia cannot produce without foreign parts, chips and other components”. “We must use sanctions to isolate Russia’s industrial capacity from the components it has to import from the rest of the world”, he explained.
The High Representative also congratulated the Ukrainians who, despite the war, have managed to make progress on key reforms. In his view, Ukraine is progressing “at a speed that [he] has never seen in any other candidate country in the accession process”.
The situation in Ukraine will be discussed by the foreign ministers on 18 November and by the European defence ministers the following day. On the same day, the European Parliament will be holding an extraordinary plenary session to mark “1,000 days of bravery and courage of the Ukrainian people”, with a remote address by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)