Costa emphasized the readiness of the EU to support Ukraine during and after the war.
Thursday’s summit of the leaders of the EU member states began after the traditional opening speech of the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsolova, with a speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was invited to Brussels by the new President of the European Council, António Costa. Before the start of the negotiations, the former Portuguese Prime Minister emphasized that the EU is ready to do “whatever and as long as necessary” to support Ukraine – during and after the war, 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, the future of not only Ukrainians, but also Europeans is at stake in Ukraine. As he emphasized, international law must prevail and the Russian “invasion must be defeated.”
In response to the discussions on the planned reduction of military aid to Ukraine by the US, Zelenskyy said that “it would be difficult for Europe” to support Ukraine without the help of the United States. He added that he was 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 warned in front of journalists that now is not the right time for peace negotiations with Moscow, because it would lead to an “unjust and unsustainable peace”. He added that Russia is still attacking. and “shows no willingness to negotiate”. Nauséda argues that European countries should now be more supportive of Ukraine to put it in a stronger negotiating position when the time comes for peace talks.
