UKRAINE. The idea was quickly abandoned. No, the European Union will not launch an express procedure for the integration of Ukraine, despite the declared war by Russia, even if the candidacy can be studied in the coming months. The Versailles summit, convened by Emmanuel Macron on March 10 and 11, nonetheless allowed EU leaders to make progress in their joint response to Vladimir Putin.
At the end of two working sessions and a few moments of informal discussion, the President of the Republic takes stock and, together with Charles Michel (President of the European Council) and Ursula von der Leyen (President of the European Commission), announces the decisions taken. during these two days. It’s in press conference, which can be followed live on the video at the top of the article.
“Fourth package of sanctions”
The decisions taken by the EU leaders concern three areas, said Charles Michel.
- Energy and in particular the supply of gas and oil to the Union
- Defense of Europe
- The Importance of Strengthening the European Economic Base
“We are going to adopt a fourth package of sanctions to isolate Russia,” Ursula von der Leyen added. “All options are being discussed,” Emmanuel Macron added of his sanctions. He also warned that it would be necessary to prepare for sanctions that Russia could take in response.
“We continue to put pressure on Russia to achieve a ceasefire,” continued the president of the republic, who rejects the idea that “Europe is at war.”
Putin calls for “volunteers”
Meanwhile, on Ukrainian soil, the Russian army expanded its offensive, attacking territories that had hitherto been spared. For the first time, the strike was on the Dnieper, and two military airfields in the west of the country, not far from Poland, which is part of the EU. And the noose around the capital Kyiv seems to be tightening.
Vladimir Putin also made two unprecedented appeals: the first to “volunteer” fighters in Russia to join the 150,000 Russian troops already deployed, and the second to Syrian fighters (Russia is an ally of Bashar al-Assad’s Syria) to come support the Russian army. army, which failed to stake on a lightning victory in Ukraine.
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