Speaking points of the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, at the G7 Security Assurance event in Vilnius.
Last week, Ukraine and her brave citizens passed 500 days of Russia’s unjustified and illegal war in Ukraine. This declaration represents our joint long-term commitment to supporting Ukraine and her territorial integrity. It is crucial for Ukraine both to defend herself and to deter future Russian aggression.
The EU’s readiness to provide security commitments, was confirmed by the June European Council. Our contribution will be concrete and sustainable and include actions such as:
- Continued delivery of military equipment through the European Peace Facility and via individual Member States;
- Continued support to the training of Ukrainian Armed Forces through EU Military Assistance Mission – with 25,000 soldiers trained already.
- Support to the reform of Ukraine’s defence sector and to the Ukrainian defence industry;
- Ramping-up of the EU’s defence industrial production (to sustain deliveries of defence equipment for Ukraine).
Finally, and most importantly – there is support to Ukraine from all EU Member States:
- support for Ukraine’s EU accession path and the needed reforms
- support for financing and reconstruction
- this is also about the EU’s commitment to shaping security in our own neighbourhood and making Europe a safer place. And this is about standing unwaveringly with Ukraine and her people both now and in the future.
Source: The European Council