EU leaders: Russia bears sole responsibility for war in Ukraine
Russia and its leadership bear sole responsibility for this war and the atrocities committed against the Ukrainian population, a joint statement by the presidents of the European Council, European Commission and European Parliament said on February 24, marking three years since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“We continue to call for accountability for all war crimes and crimes against humanity committed,” European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said in the joint statement.
“We welcome the recent steps made towards the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine,” the statement said.
It said that three years ago, Russia’s brutal war deliberately targets civilian and critical infrastructure.
The Ukrainian people have shown bravery in defending their country and the core principles of international law, the statement said.
“We pay tribute to all those who have sacrificed their lives and have lost loved ones for Ukraine’s independence and freedom.”
The statement said that the EU and its partners had acted swiftly and in unity to support Ukraine.
The EU has provided to Ukraine economic, humanitarian, financial and military assistance that totals to 135 billion euro, with 48.7 billion euro of military assistance.
The EU will continue to provide Ukraine with regular and predictable financial support, including reconstruction of the country after the war.
Russia and its people are paying a price for their leader’s actions.
“Together with partners, we have imposed unprecedented sanctions against Russia and those complicit in the war and remain ready to increase the pressure on Russia to limit its ability to wage war.
“We are already using windfall profits from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine’s defence industry and energy recovery,” the statement said.
“Today, we have adopted a 16th sanctions package to further increase collective pressure on Russia to end its war of aggression.”
In parallel, the EU had taken unprecedented actions at the EU level to ramp up European defence industry production, “and we will continue to increase our capacity”.
“This will allow us to step up our military support and cooperation with Ukraine while simultaneously strengthening our defence readiness and European sovereignty.”
Ukraine is part of our European family, the statement said, adding that Ukrainians had expressed their wish for a future within the EU.
“We have acknowledged that by granting Ukraine the status of candidate country and launched accession negotiations.”
Ukraine had made significant progress in accession related reforms under the most challenging circumstances, the statement said.
“We are already integrating Ukraine into the EU’s internal market. The future of Ukraine and its citizens lies within the European Union.”
In what the statement described as “a challenging international and geopolitical environment”, it said “we stress the importance of maintaining transatlantic and global solidarity with Ukraine”.
“We highlight the need to ensure the international community’s continued focus on supporting Ukraine in achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace based on the Ukrainian peace formula.
“We stand firm with Ukraine, reaffirming that peace, security, and justice will prevail,” the statement said.
(Photo: EC Audiovisual Service)
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