European Ministers agreed to increase military assistance for Ukraine, isolate Russia

Europe, News May 24, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

European Union foreign and defense ministers held two separate meetings in Brussels to discuss measures to increase military assistance for Ukraine and isolate Russia.

During the meeting, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell urged EU ministers to “speed up the delivery and joint procurement of ammunition for Ukraine” as well as to finalize work for a new assistance package for Kyiv under the European Peace Facility.

Borrell said that “every day of delay in our deliveries has to be measured in human lives” and stressed that “It is not a matter of money. It is a matter of people being killed, of soldiers being killed or wounded”.

The EU high representative further added that “The success and extent of Ukraine’s defense depends not only on the bravery of their soldiers and their people, but also on the pace of ammunition and weapons. On the pace of [our] deliveries. That is why, our military support has to continue, has to increase, has to be extended [with] more air defense systems. This will make a real difference in the battlefield.”

The Council also discussed the ongoing work on the 11th package of sanctions against Russia and focused on the shortcomings of existing sanctions. The EU ministers were also briefed by the alliance’s sanctions envoy, David O’Sullivan on his engagement with partners in third countries.

The EU Foreign Ministers also discussed the issue of accountability and Ukraine’s Peace Formula. According to the EU statement, the ministers discussed how to end the war in Ukraine. “Everybody wants the war to finish. The only one that looks willing to continue the war is Putin. No one wishes peace more than Ukraine, and that is why we support the Ukrainians’ initiative, President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy’s initiative, for a just peace,” Borrell added.

On May 23, European Union defense ministers also met in Brussels to discuss the Ukraine crisis. The meeting was also attended by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

*^{NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg participated in a meeting of the European Union defense ministers in Brussels, on May 23, 2023. (Image Credit: NATO)}*

During the meeting, Secretary General Stoltenberg said, “NATO Allies and partners are providing unprecedented support to Ukraine” and welcomed the announcement by the United States, the UK, and other European NATO Allies that “they are going to start training Ukrainian pilots in fourth-generation fighter aircraft, including F-16s”. Stoltenberg stressed that this is part of our long-term commitment to Ukraine’s ability to defend itself.

The NATO secretary general urged the participants to form even closer cooperation between NATO and the European Union to ramp up the “production of ammunition and defensive equipment, both to support Ukraine and to replenish our own stocks”.

Stoltenberg outlined NATO’s unique role in setting standards for all NATO Allies, providing a clear demand signal through the NATO defense capability targets”. He added that “NATO is revising capability targets, especially for battle-decisive ammunition, giving industry the long-term demand signal it needs to invest” and stressed the need to “ensure that ammunition is interoperable and interchangeable, and that there are no new barriers between European and North American NATO Allies”.