The head of the EU: "We will increase military aid to Ukraine"

The European Union will increase military aid to Ukraine, promises EU foreign policy and security chief Josep Borrell, after late last week the US Congress passed a temporary funding bill that makes no reference to such aid for the country at war with Russia.

On a visit to Kiev, Borrell said that the EU wants to increase the military aid given to Ukraine, in order to respond to an "existential threat to Europe", notes Reuters.

The Foreign Ministers of the European Union met yesterday in Kiev, an event that Borrell described as a "historic meeting", meant to express solidarity and support for the Ukrainian people. The meeting was "informal" and "did not aim to come up with concrete conclusions and decisions", according to Borrell.

His Majesty also said: "Let's wait and see what happens in the USA, but, from our side, we will continue to increase support. The Ukrainians are fighting with all their courage and ability, and we must give them better weapons. The Union is preparing for long-term security commitments towards Ukraine".

The EU official hopes that the member states will reach a decision before the end of the current year regarding the increase in aid to Kiev.

• Russia, warned by France not to count on the "fatigue" of Europe

Russia was warned yesterday, by France, not to count on Europe's "fatigue" in terms of support for Ukraine, according to the BBC, which recalls that the EU meeting in Kiev was the first held outside the EU bloc.

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna described yesterday's meeting as "a demonstration of Europe's determined and lasting support for Ukraine", stressing: "It is also a message to Russia that it should not rely on our fatigue . We will be there for a long time to come."

However, the message was contradicted by the Kremlin, the Russians being convinced that this "fatigue" will intensify in different countries.

At the same meeting, the Lithuanian Foreign Minister, Gabrielius Lansbergis, said that the European Union is facing a "critical moment", after the recent changes in the United States and Slovakia, which threaten the EU and NATO support of Ukraine against Russia, according to CNN.

We remind you that on Sunday, in Slovakia, the Smer-Sd (populist) party of former Prime Minister Robert Fico, considered a supporter of Russia, won the parliamentary elections, after, in the electoral campaign, he promised to stop helping Ukraine militarily and to block the country's accession to NATO. Gabrielius Lansbergis added: "These developments may cast doubt on our support for Ukraine, on our seriousness, but I hope that our meeting will resolve this issue and send a very clear message that Europe is with Ukraine until victory." .

And the foreign ministers of Ireland and Romania expressed their support for Kiev. The relevant Irish minister, Micheal Martin, expressed his hope that the EU will find a "sustainable approach to support Ukraine in the long term", and the Romanian official, Luminiţa Odobescu, said that our country will support Kiev in grain exports , emphasizing the negative impact of the Russian invasion on world food security.

For her part, the head of German diplomacy, Annalena Baerbock, called for the implementation of a "winter protection plan", which would allow Ukraine to cope with the bombing of its energy infrastructure.

The head of Ukrainian diplomacy, Dmitro Kuleba, welcomed the first meeting of his European counterparts held in Kiev, considering that it took place "within the future borders of the European Union".

VR