Speaking at the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, called for an increase in military aid to Ukraine.
Kuleba urged that “a Ukrainian infantryman” must always be remembered, who Kuleba said, “is the main actor in the Russian-Ukrainian war. Whose actions set the direction of European history. Whose success will ensure the victory of Ukraine and the whole of Europe.”
“All types of troops are important, but only when an infantryman takes another landing or enters a village, they are considered released, and this, in the end, changes the situation on the frontline, then media headlines, and later political decisions.”
Dmytro Kuleba
According to Kuleba, there are two key components that would ensure the success of the Ukrainian infantry: the tools required to carry out missions and morale.
The Ukrainian Minister thanked the European Union for the supply of weapons and ammunition, as well as further steps bolstering the morale of the entire Ukrainian people, such as the European Commission’s recent decision recommending the start of accession talks with Ukraine.
Kuleba mentioned that the above decision helped Ukrainians to realize that their struggle and efforts were not in vain.
As such, Kuleba expressed hope that EU leaders would unanimously support decisions to be made in December on the start of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
Additionally, Kuleba spoke in detail about the country’s priority military needs.
He called for increasing military aid to Ukraine and speeding up the deliveries.
He mentioned army aircraft, artillery systems, multiple launch rocket systems, armored vehicles, tanks, ammunition, electronic warfare systems, radars, drones, long-range missiles, and other equipment.
Separately, Kuleba stressed the need to further strengthen Ukraine’s anti-aircraft and anti-missile defenses, and the supply of related ammunition.
Thanking the EU for all the support that had already been provided, Kuleba expressed hope for receiving the eight tranche in aid to Ukraine from the European Peace Fund, and creating the special fund, totaling 20 billion euros.
Moreoveer, Kuleba reiterated his call for creating a joint collaborative space of defense industries of EU Member States and candidates.
In his words, such cooperation may eventually become one of the pillars of the EU’s joint security and defense policy.
Moreso, he urged the EU to speed up work on the 12th package of sanctions against Russia.
Ukraine, EU’s Top Priority
EU’s high representative for foreign affairs, Josep Borrell said that Ukraine is the bloc’s top priority and that there will be “no fatigue to our commitment” to supporting the country.
The EU’s 27 foreign ministers passed a united message of support for Ukraine.
Borrell was reported as saying that the EU has already provided €27bn in military assistance to Ukraine and will continue to support the country as the war continues.
He also called on the international community not to forget about the war in Ukraine against the background of the Israel-Hamas war.
Meanwhile, a centre to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 jets was opened in Romania. Five Dutch F-16s have already been delivered, Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced last week, with another seven due to arrive.
“The centre will be an international hub for F-16 pilot training and will facilitate increased interoperability between allies,” Romania’s defence minister Angel Tîlvar said.
His message was endorsed by the Dutch defence minister Kajsa Ollongren, who urged European countries to “work together” on international security.
However, it is not expected Ukrainian pilots will be ready to fly the fighter jets until summer 2024.
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