Thursday’s summit of the leaders of the EU member states, after the traditional opening speech of the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola started with the speech of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was invited to Brussels by the new President of the European Council, António Costa.
The Portuguese ex-prime minister emphasized before the start of the negotiations that The EU is ready to do “whatever and as long as necessary” to support Ukraine – during the war and after it, the TASR reporter reports from Brussels.
Costa arrived at the European Council building alongside Zelensky. “One day we want to welcome you here as a member of the EU,” said the head of the European Council to Zelensky. According to Costa, he is currently in Ukraine not only the future of Ukrainians, but also of Europeans is at stake. As he emphasized, international law must prevail and the Russian “invasion must be defeated”.
In connection with the discussions on the planned reduction of military aid to Ukraine by the USA, Zelenskyj said that “it would be difficult for Europe” to support Ukraine without the help of the United States. He added that he is ready for talks with the newly elected US President Donald Trump after his inauguration in January.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauséda, one of the harsh critics of Russian President Vladimir Putin, also pointed out to journalists that now is not the right time for peace talks with Moscow, as it would lead to an “unjust and unsustainable peace”. He added that Russia is still attacking and “shows no willingness to negotiate”.
Nauseda claims that European countries should now support Ukraine moreto put herself in a stronger negotiating position when the time comes for peace talks.
