By BRUSSELS. Dec 15 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The European Council discussed future EU commitments in the field of security for Ukraine, work on which will continue in the Council.
This is discussed in the conclusions of the European Council’s meeting, published on Thursday in Brussels as part of the first day of the Council’s work.
“The European Union and its Member States remain committed to contributing, for the long-term and together with partners, to security commitments to Ukraine, which will help Ukraine to defend itself, resist destabilisation efforts and deter acts of aggression in the future. Following the report by the High Representative, the European Council discussed the EU’s future security commitments to Ukraine. It invites the High Representative and Member States to take work forward in the Council. The European Council will remain seized of the matter,” according to the document.
However, the conclusions note that military support and security commitments will be provided “in full respect of the security and defence policy of certain Member States and taking into account the security and defence interests of all Member States.”
In addition, the European Council stated that “in the face of continued Russian attacks against Ukraine’s civil and critical infrastructure, the European Union and its Member States will intensify the provision of further humanitarian and civil protection assistance to Ukraine, as well as assistance to ensure the resilience of its energy sector through the winter.” “Moreover, the European Union remains committed to supporting Ukraine’s repair, recovery and reconstruction, in coordination with international partners, including the demining process and psychosocial rehabilitation,” according to the conclusions.
The EU leaders also assured that they would continue “their intensive global outreach efforts and cooperation with Ukraine and partners from all regions of the world to ensure the widest possible international support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace and the key principles and objectives of Ukraine’s Peace Formula, with a view to a future Global Peace Summit.”
