As tensions between Ukraine and Russia reached their highest level in many years, EU leaders and their eastern partnership partners held a summit on Wednesday (December 15) to reaffirm the strategic importance of the region.
As the EU and its eastern neighbors-Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan-hold the summit, the West is seeking options to prevent what it says Russia is preparing to launch a new attack on Ukrainian territory.
European Commission President Ursula von Delane said after the meeting: “We first call on Russia to ease the situation, but we are also ready to respond to any increasing aggression on the Russian side.”
“Sanctions are in place, and these sanctions may be tightened, but of course there are sanctions that are prepared, and these sanctions are in a leading position in all the different areas you might think of,” she added.
Mediation attempt
Ukrainian President Zelensky stated in Brussels that Ukraine is ready for any form of talks with Russia, but is more willing to immediately impose sanctions as a preemptive measure to prevent any potential military attacks.
In the margins of the official summit meeting, French and German leaders sought to resume talks under the so-called “Normandy model,” which also included Russia, aimed at implementing the Minsk II peace agreement to end the war in eastern Ukraine.
The new German Chancellor Olaf Schultz and French President Emmanuel Macron met Zelensky separately and also met Zelensky together.
Macron’s office said: “The three leaders reaffirmed their commitment to this form of negotiation to find a lasting solution to the conflict and safeguard Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Zelensky said on Twitter that he hopes Macron will support the fight against Russia’s “mixed aggression” in Europe when Paris assumes the EU’s rotating presidency for six months in January.
He also invited Schultz to visit Ukraine and hoped to deepen cooperation with Berlin in energy, security and defense, implicit criticism of Beixi 2, and follow-up to earlier accusations that Germany blocked the delivery of weapons to Ukraine.
However, the Ukrainian president did hint that he found that support for the West was insufficient to protect it from a larger escalation.
Zelensky said: “Some leaders have proposed a format to deal with possible escalation after possible escalation.”
“To be honest, no one was particularly interested in sanctions policies after that. Before a possible escalation, our state was interested in strong sanctions policies,” he added.
Member dream
This is the first physical meeting between the two parties since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the first official summit between the EU and its eastern neighbors since 2017.
After this attempt failed in 2019 and was relegated to a presidential statement signed only by Federica Mogherini, the then highest diplomat of the European Union, the formulation of a joint political declaration was particularly politically sensitive.
Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova seek in Brussels Support them Recent initiative cooperating Attempts to persuade the EU to start negotiations to join the group again are unlikely to produce results anytime soon.
The self-proclaimed “Joint Trio” signed a joint agreement to deepen trade and political ties with the European Union in exchange for reforms.
“Our goal is to become a full member of the European Union,” Zelensky said in Brussels.
While acknowledging the initiative, EU leaders continue to “emphasize the importance of the principle of inclusiveness and provide all interested partners with equal access to opportunities and resources.”
Nevertheless, the final summit Joint Statement Said that cooperation can be deepened in a variety of ways, “including but not limited to green and digital dual transformation, interconnection, energy security, justice and internal affairs, strategic communication, and healthcare.”
Although most EU member states openly opposed Russia’s veto or “sphere of influence” idea of the former Soviet republics and insisted that they were free to choose their strategic alliance, several EU diplomats and senior government officials admitted that no one In Brussels, it is currently possible to envisage Ukraine or Georgia joining the group.
“We emphasize that this is a constructive partnership, not aimed at anyone, but aimed at contributing to the peace and prosperity of all neighboring countries,” the final summit communique wrote.
The final communiqué stated that the EU will “recognize the European aspirations and European choices of the five countries”, but did not make specific guarantees.
The leaders of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova each adopted a Joint Statement, To finalize their greater ambitions.
Empty chair in Belarus
After Belarusian strongman Lukashenko, Minsk is represented by an empty chair Say He will leave the partnership last summer.
“We dispute this idea because… basically, it’s an admission, this suspension [by Lukashenko] Participating in the Eastern Partnership initiative is actually legal,” said Valery Cavaleski, the head of the cabinet of opposition leader Svetlana Zihanusskaya at a meeting. event last week.
What they envisioned is “side events during the summit, a bit like the summit itself.” Instead, Zihanusskaya met with Michel and the EU’s chief diplomat Jose Puborel.
“That empty chair does not mean that we have withdrawn our commitment to the people of Belarus,” Michel told reporters after the summit.
Asked by EURACTIV on the eve of the summit, Qihanusskaya also said that it is necessary to better coordinate the sanctions imposed by the West on the Lukashenko regime to fill the current loopholes.
When asked by reporters whether the EU is ready to listen to these calls, Von der Lein promised to pay close attention.
“Therefore, there should be no loopholes in sanctions. Of course, we are willing to investigate whether loopholes exist,” said the EU chief executive.
“But I also think that in the case of Belarus, we have seen how much we can play when the EU is united and act quickly. [which is] What have we done?” she added.
Von der Lein said, “It is great to see us, 27 member states and five Eastern partners reach a consensus. We unanimously condemn Lukashenko’s actions, and we all stand with the people of Belarus.”
(Editing by Georgi Getoff)
