The EU at a special summit Thursday promised ‘unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence’ and to substantially increase expenditure on Europe’s security and defence.
At the meeting in Brussels, leaders described Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its repercussions for European and global security as constituting “an existential challenge for the European Union”.
The Special European Council’s conclusions marked “a defining moment for Europe”, said the Council president Antonio Costa following the meeting, adding that “Ukraine’s security is at the core of Europe’s security”.
“Today, we have also tasked the Council to work urgently on further initiatives to address Ukraine’s pressing military and defence needs,” he said. “At the same time, we are preparing to support Ukraine for when it decides to engage in negotiations. To help it reach a positive outcome, that means a just and lasting peace.”
Financial support from the EU is to increase, currently amounting to EUR 30.6 billion, with disbursements from the EU’s ‘Ukraine Facility’ expected to reach EUR 12.5 billion, and another EUR 18.1 billion under the G7 ERA, to be initiative repaid by the windfall profits stemming from immobilised Russian assets.
However, to substantially increase expenditure on Europe’s security and defence, the European Commission has declared its intention to provide EU Member States with loans backed by the EU budget of up to EUR 150 billion.
Stepping up efforts to address Ukraine’s pressing military and defence needs will focus in particular on the delivery of air defence systems, ammunition and missiles and the provision of necessary training and equipment for Ukrainian brigades.
The bolstering of Europe’s defence capabilities will also prioritise areas including air and missile defence; artillery systems, including deep precision strike capabilities; missiles and ammunition; drones and anti-drone systems; strategic enablers, including in relation to space and critical infrastructure protection; military mobility; cyber; artificial intelligence and electronic warfare.
The EU leaders have welcomed moves for peace negotiations, to be held in Saudi Arabia next week, b ut also stressing that there could be no negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine.
In underlining the wider implications of Russia’s war against Ukraine for European and international security, the leaders said that any such negotiations had to lead to ‘a comprehensive, just and lasting peace’. And any truce or ceasefire could only take place as part of a process leading to a comprehensive peace agreement.
In order for Ukraine to be in the strongest possible position at peace negotiations, the EU said it remained committed to providing ‘enhanced political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people’, and to stepping up pressure on Russia, including through further sanctions.
The European Council stressed that moves towards a strengthened European Union in the field of security and defence is complementary to NATO, which remains, for those States that are members of it, “the foundation of their collective defence”.
