Many western leaders have pledged more military aid in a show of support for Ukraine as they attended events marking the third anniversary of the country’s war with Russia.
Similar messages run through the speeches of the leaders present in Ukraine.
They asserted that Ukraine and its European partners must be consulted in any peace negotiations, President Vladimir Putin’s ambitions must be thwarted, and Europe must take on more of the burden for its own defense.
Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez announced that his country would provide a 1-billion-euro ($1.04 billion) military systems package to Ukraine this year.
He said that Ukrainians can count on Spain and “rest assured, we will be with you as long as it takes and as much as you need.”
“Difficult months lie ahead, but I am convinced that at the end of this terrible period, freedom and democracy will prevail over violence and authoritarianism.
“Whatever happens in the coming months, Ukrainians accession to the European Union is the most important victory for the Ukrainian people.”
Pedro Sánchez
Also, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen announced that a new payment of $3.7 billion will arrive in March.
In a joint statement, the President of the European parliament Roberta Metsola, the President of the European council António Costa, and Ursula von der Leyen stressed the importance of maintaining transatlantic and global solidarity with Ukraine “in a challenging international and geopolitical environment.”
“Three years ago, Russia started its full-scale and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. Russia’s brutal war deliberately targets civilian and critical infrastructure.
“Russia and its leadership bear sole responsibility for this war and the atrocities committed against the Ukrainian population. We continue to call for accountability for all war crimes and crimes against humanity committed.”
Roberta Metsola, António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen
Also, the three leaders noted in the statement that the European Union (EU) will continue to provide Ukraine with regular and predictable financial support, including reconstruction of the country after the war.
They added that unprecedented actions have been at the EU level to ramp up European defence industry production, and they will continue to increase capacity.
This, they said, will allow the EU to step up military support and cooperation with Ukraine while simultaneously strengthening defence readiness and European sovereignty.
They also paid tribute to those who had lost lives in the conflict, and said, “Russia and its people are paying a price for their leader’s actions.”
Call For More Arms Production
Meanwhile, Mette Frederiksen, the Prime Minister of Denmark, said at the “Support Ukraine” event in Kyiv that Europe had to step up arms production.
According to her, a ceasefire without a sustainable peace will cause “a lot of danger to all of us.”
She said that she did not think spending 3% of GDP on defence would be enough.
She added that Europe only has a couple of months to take decisions on defence spending, “Otherwise we’ll be too late, and being too late cannot be the conclusion.”
“I have never believed that this war is primarily about Ukraine. You are paying the price for it, but this war is about Russia. It’s about the imperial dream, and therefore I find it very difficult to trust Putin and to trust Russia. And it goes without saying that nothing should be negotiated without Ukraine, not only at the table, but in the centre of the table.”
Mette Frederiksen
Moreover, Frederiksen stressed that inviting Ukraine into NATO was “the strongest security guarantee, the easiest way forward [and] the cheapest way forward.”
In a clear reference to US president Donald Trump, Frederiksen said, “I know that some allies are against this,” adding that if Ukraine cannot be given NATO Membership, then “we have to find another way to provide Ukraine with a clear, long term security guarantee.”
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