Von der Leyen gets nod for second EU term, Estonia’s Kallas as top diplomat
Von der Leyen gets nod for second EU term, Estonia’s Kallas as top diplomat
Leaders struck deal at a summit that also saw Antonio Costa named as the next head of the European Commission.
The agreement lays out the EU’s commitments to help Ukraine in nine areas of security policy, including arms deliveries, military training, defence industry cooperation and demining.
“These commitments will help Ukraine defend itself, resist destabilisation and deter future acts of aggression – more concrete proof of the EU’s unshakeable resolve to support Ukraine for the long haul,” Michel said.
The leaders reiterated their pledge to support Ukraine as long as it takes, stressing that “Russia must not prevail”, and that Ukraine must get back its territory annexed by Moscow.
Russian soldiers are currently pushing forward in the east of Ukraine with intense battles around towns including Chasiv Yar, where the military said it had pushed back Russian forces on Thursday, although a Russian commander claimed his forces had advanced in the area.
Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has also come under relentless attack with the national power company forced to impose rolling blackouts on several occasions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who also attended the summit, welcomed the security deal and urged the EU to deliver on its promises.
“Fulfilment of every promise is important, not only in terms of protecting lives but also to destroy the Russian illusion that they will achieve something by war,” Zelenskyy told the leaders at the EU summit in Brussels.
SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES
