On the Independence Day of Ukraine, many European leaders and politicians expressed congratulations. Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell said that on this day and every day we must stand with Ukraine. He also urged to think about security guarantees for Ukraine.
“Ukrainians rallied to defend their state”
< p dir="ltr"> European Union Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell stressed that on Ukraine's Independence Day and six months after the start of the war, the best message the EU can send is that they will continue to support Ukraine.
He stated that Europe must be prepared to pay the price of protecting their common freedom and security.
According to him, six months ago, Russia carried out a brutal, unprovoked and unjustified invasion to Ukraine – an attack that was both a crime and a big miscalculation.
Putin thought that the Ukrainian authorities would soon fall and the president would flee. The Russian regime also assumed that the EU would be divided and unable to respond forcefully. But Ukrainians rallied to defend their state and sovereignty, showing amazing courage against the aggressor,” Borrell said.
He noted that the EU and its partners have demonstrated unprecedented unity and determination to support Ukraine in all areas.
In his opinion, this is not “just” a European war. “This war has huge consequences around the world. Most strikingly, it has raised the price of energy and food. And, as always, those who are least able to cope, suffer the biggest “burden,” the diplomat said.
Borrell noted that the European Union has been on the side of the Ukrainians since the beginning of the war , realizing that their common security is “at stake”.
We have adopted six packages of significant sanctions. For the first time in history, we financed the delivery of military support to an attacked country to give Ukraine the opportunity to fight back. We provide humanitarian support and macro-financial assistance to keep Ukraine afloat,” he commented.
The EU wants Ukraine to become the future member of the European Union
The Vice-President of the European Commission said that they officially decided that they want Ukraine to become a future member of the EU as part of the family. “The EU and Europe are changing dramatically because of this war,” he said.
According to him, during the six months of the war, Russia occupied 20% of the territory of Ukraine and a significant part of the Black Sea coast.
“However, now the war has clearly entered a new phase. Also, thanks to the military support of the West, Ukraine stop the Russian offensive and liberate some territories, especially in the south of the country. A number of effective attacks were carried out on ammunition depots and Russian military bases,” the politician said.
Borrell urged to think about security guarantees for Ukraine
Josep Borrell stressed that in the coming weeks the international community should continue to pursue our triple strategy:
< ul dir="ltr">
In the long term, the question also arises of how we can not only end this war, but also prevent another from occurring in a few months or years. This includes important questions about how to enable Ukraine to defend itself, as well as security guarantees,” he replied.
The next months will be very difficult for everyone
Borrell believes that the next weeks and months will be very difficult, especially for Ukrainians who pay with their lives, as well as for all other Europeans.
< p dir="ltr"> “But we cannot reduce our commitment or weaken our resolve, even as the price rises. The future of democracy and the broader principles of European and even global security” are at stake,” he said. he.
By the way, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrived in Kyiv on the Independence Day of Ukraine. He announced a new aid package for Ukraine worth £54 million.
