European leaders have reiterated their full support for Ukraine’s future accession to the EU, saying that the ‘future of a secure and prosperous Ukraine lies in the European Union’.
In a joint statement by the President of the European Commission, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Parliament to mark the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, EU leaders noted that Ukraine has made ‘significant progress’ on EU accession reforms despite ‘very challenging’ circumstances.
They added that the bloc ‘stands firm’ with Ukraine, and will make sure that Russia ‘will be held accountable for the crimes committed and the damage it has caused’, through operationalising the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, as well as an International Claims Commission for Ukraine, within the framework of the Council of Europe.
‘Fortitude, determination and resilience’
‘The European Union has stood firmly with Ukraine and its people from the very first day of Russia‘s aggression,’ the leaders noted, adding that Ukrainians remain ‘formidable in their fortitude, determination and resilience’, despite four years of conflict.
‘Our objective is a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law, they added. ‘We support all efforts aimed at achieving such a peace – a peace with dignity and long-term security. Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is the cornerstone. No country can annex its neighbour. Borders cannot be changed by force. The aggressor cannot be rewarded. In the current challenging international and geopolitical environment, we stress the importance of maintaining transatlantic and global solidarity with Ukraine.’
Support package
In addition to close to €200 billion of support pledged since 2022, European leaders have also agreed to provide €90 billion to Ukraine in 2026/27 to ensure the country meets its budgetary and defence needs. Some €60 billion of this support package will be spent on military needs.
‘But our efforts in support of Ukraine also look to the day after – when the fighting ends,’ the leaders added. ‘The European Union and its Member States, in line with their respective competences, are ready to contribute to robust and credible security guarantees to ensure that Russia can never attack Ukraine again.’ Read more here.
