Amid An unprecedented escalationafter Russia has violated airspace half a dozen block countries, European Union leaders They meet on Wednesday in a armored Denmark to discuss how to continue reinforcing your defense policy and maintain support for Ukraine.
France, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, Finland… They will send staff and reinforcements for Denmark Air Defense and Anti -Dangones, after several incursions that forced to close several airports of the country last week. They do it to guarantee the security of European Council that meets informally this Wednesday.
The systematic violations of European airspace by Russian drones and combat planes have led leaders to A “Consciousness Exam”recognize a high diplomatic source. The leaders will sit at the table in Copenhagen to discuss How to build a “wall” of anti -Didish defense Or, for the first time, to explore the possibility of using frozen Russian assets to give financial assistance to Ukraine.
Rearme for peace
“Preserve peace It has always been a fundamental task of the European Union, ”said the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyenin a statement prior to the summit, together with the NATO secretary general, Mark Rutte. “Although the instruments have varied over time, the objective has remained the same,” he added.
Von der Leyen refers to the EU, traditionally a Soft Power more focused on influence through regulation and diplomacy that in the use of force, He has made defense policy its central axis. “We are building a Europe capable of respond effectively, autonomously and joint to current and future threats, ”acknowledged the president of the European Council, Antonio Costain your invitation letter to the leaders.
In recent months, the commission has presented An important battery of measures to contribute to the financing, coordination and development of the industry. “In close collaboration with NATO, We need capabilities that are interoperable. To achieve this, we need more joint acquisitions, ”said the German.
An anti -Didish wall
The violations of European airspace They have put on guard the countries of the block, especially those of the east flank. For a high community source, defending the flank this is defending the EU as a whole And, therefore, it must be a common goal. One of the issues that will be on the table is the call “Antidron wall” that border countries claim with Russia.
“There is a clear tendency to Consider the oriental flank as a priority zone For projects ”, has recognized a high European source, in reference to Common financing instruments for initiatives that contribute to the collective defense. At the same time he has admitted that there is still no firm proposal on the table, and leaders will need more information to pronounce.
The initiative has also been well received by Rutte. “Is timely and necessarybecause after all we cannot spend millions of euros or dollars in missiles to tear down drones, which only cost a couple of thousands of dollars, ”he said The NATO Secretary General.
Although community sources They do not expect a firm decision Being an informal meeting, they do believe that the discussion could guide work that the head of European diplomacy have ahead, Kaja Kallasand the defense commissioner, Andrew Kubilius. Costa hopes to translate those conversations into firm steps during the summit at the end of October.
Ukraine, the last border
In addition, leaders will continue to explore Formulas to maintain economic and military support to kyiv. “Our security is linked to the security of Ukraine,” said Costa. “I firmly believe that we are at a time when a decisive action on our part can mean A turning point in this conflict”Von der Leyen said.
In that discussion, the main issue on the table will be How to use frozen Russian assets in the form of loans to the Ukrainian government. For von der Leyen, this would be a solution to give structural military support to Ukraine, Forcing Russia at the same time to pay for the damage of war. However, this option divide the twenty -seven.
“Leaders must discuss whether Use of immobilized assets It is the path they want to follow, “said a high community source.” There is no better place than an informal European council “to discover what worries the different countries of the proposal, added the same source.
To move on, Legal bases must be solid. A good part of the more than 200,000 million euros in frozen assets are in Belgium, under the control of the Euroclear company. The Belgian government is concerned that in case there are Legal reprisalstouch the state run with the invoice. Any decision in this area, in principle, would require unanimity.
In parallel, the twenty -seven are also looking for An agreement to a new sanctions package which puts the cryptocurrencies, and advances the date for Close the liquefied natural gas tap from Russia. It is precisely the energy issue that delays the decision. Von der Leyen has defended on Tuesday that The sanctions “work” and “you have to increase the pressure.”
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