EU leaders to discuss Ukraine
EU leaders this afternoon will discuss the latest in Ukraine with Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president.
In his invitation letter to the EU’s 27 heads of state and government, Charles Michel, the European Council president, wrote:
Concretely, our meeting will kick off on Thursday 27 June at 2pm with an exchange with President Zelenskyy. This will be an opportunity to discuss the situation on the ground, but also take note of some achievements since our last meeting.
In particular, this European Council will be an opportunity to welcome the adoption of negotiating frameworks and the holding of Intergovernmental Conferences with Ukraine, Moldova and Montenegro. These are historic steps in supporting these countries’ respective path towards European membership.
Furthermore, we have been ambitious and bold in channelling the extraordinary revenue from immobilised Russian assets to support Ukraine this year. For the following years, together with partners, we will secure loans for Ukraine for an additional EUR 50 billion.
It is also imperative that we intensify our military support to Ukraine, focusing on air defence, ammunition, and missiles. Additionally, we must continue to rally broad international support for a just peace in Ukraine based on the UN Charter.
Key events
‘Clear consensus’ for von der Leyen, Harris says
Ireland’s Simon Harris said when arriving at the summit that when it comes to the European Council’s choice for next European Commission president “there’s absolutely no doubt, there is a clear a consensus that that will be Ursula von der Leyen.”
He said the name of Ireland’s next commissioner is “settled.”
On the Middle East, Harris did:
I do not believe we are using all of the levers at our disposal as a European Union to bring about maximum pressure to bring about an immediate ceasefire.
Harris underscores Ukraine support, EU competitiveness
Simon Harris, the Irish leader, said he is “very pleased that we’re taking a historic step forward today in the fact that the European Council will of course be discussing Ukraine’s membership of the European Union, having had the intergovernmental conference in recent days.”
“Looking forward to welcoming president Zelenskiy here to Brussels today as well, as another symbol of the ongoing solidarity that the European Union will continue to show with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
Harris also stressed that he is looking forward to talks on competitiveness.
He also said that today he believes “we will bring finality – from the Council’s point of view – for the three top roles in the European institutions for the next period of time.”
Zelenskiy to sign security agreements in Brussels
“We will sign three security agreements, including one with the EU as a whole,” Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced as he arrived for a summit with European leaders in Brussels.
“For the first time, this agreement will enshrine the commitment of all 27 Member States to provide Ukraine with extensive support, regardless of any internal institutional changes. Each step we take brings us closer to our historic goal of peace and prosperity in our common European home,” he said.
In the past few days, Ukraine has started actual negotiations on EU membership. Today, I am in Brussels to attend a meeting of the European Council and to thank all European leaders for their unity and for affirming the irreversibility of our European course.
I will meet with…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 27, 2024
Asked if he’s concerned about the consequences of France’s upcoming elections, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said in Brussels that he hopes that most countries “will be on right side of history, on our side.”
He also said Ukraine wants to prepare a plan to put on the table at a second peace summit.
‘We have to work on next steps’: Zelenskiy arrives at Brussels summit
The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has arrived at the summit.
Standing alongside Charles Michel, he said:
Thanks to you and of course to all the leaders of the EU for such historic outcome. We waited for this long period of time, yes. And everybody – civilians and of course our heroes on the battlefield – you know that how we want to be in the EU.
Now we see this strong, historic step forward. And thank you very much for this support and for this outcome, opening negotiations. It’s very important for all of us, for all Ukraine, believe me.
And of course, we have to work on next steps.
You always say that we are too quick! But we need… we will discuss today with leaders about it, our next steps.
He also pointed to “urgent things”, stressing the need for more air defence.
EU leaders to discuss Ukraine
EU leaders this afternoon will discuss the latest in Ukraine with Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president.
In his invitation letter to the EU’s 27 heads of state and government, Charles Michel, the European Council president, wrote:
Concretely, our meeting will kick off on Thursday 27 June at 2pm with an exchange with President Zelenskyy. This will be an opportunity to discuss the situation on the ground, but also take note of some achievements since our last meeting.
In particular, this European Council will be an opportunity to welcome the adoption of negotiating frameworks and the holding of Intergovernmental Conferences with Ukraine, Moldova and Montenegro. These are historic steps in supporting these countries’ respective path towards European membership.
Furthermore, we have been ambitious and bold in channelling the extraordinary revenue from immobilised Russian assets to support Ukraine this year. For the following years, together with partners, we will secure loans for Ukraine for an additional EUR 50 billion.
It is also imperative that we intensify our military support to Ukraine, focusing on air defence, ammunition, and missiles. Additionally, we must continue to rally broad international support for a just peace in Ukraine based on the UN Charter.
Welcome to the blog
Good afternoon and welcome to a special edition of the Europe blog, coming to you from the European Council summit in Brussels.
Today, the EU’s 27 heads of state and government are expected to discuss the situation in Ukraine – and make a decision on the bloc’s next top leaders.
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