The European Union Representation in Kiev will also reopen on Friday.
Six weeks after the start of the war in Ukraine, the European Union representation in Kiev will reopen on Friday. The announcement was made by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on the train journey of a delegation of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Kiev.
Ambassador Matti Maasikos was also aboard the train, which was expected in Kiev later that day. He will resume work in the Ukrainian capital with a small team. The EU representation was completely evacuated the day after the start of the war, and from then on, a core team worked in Rzeszow, in southern Poland.
The ambassador’s trip and return must show “that Ukraine exists, that there is a capital, a government and representations of other countries”. The country is still under Ukrainian control, Borrell said. Referring to the train journey across the country, the Spaniard said: “You don’t feel like you’re at war.”
How can we better support Ukraine?
He also announced that he would provide 7.5 million euros for investigations that Ukraine is conducting into war crimes in the Kiev suburb of Bucha and elsewhere.
According to Borrell, the visit to Kiev will also include advice on how, in particular, EU military support to Ukraine in the fight against Russia can be better managed. He expressed confidence that EU states will agree to his proposal to provide Ukraine with an additional €500 million to support the Ukrainian armed forces in their fight against the Russian army in the coming days. This would increase available funds to €1.5 billion.
According to Borrell, the visit to Kiev will also include advice on how, in particular, EU military support to Ukraine in the fight against Russia can be better managed. He expressed confidence that EU states will agree to his proposal to provide Ukraine with an additional €500 million to support the Ukrainian armed forces in their fight against the Russian army in the coming days. This would increase available funds to €1.5 billion.
Stop Russian power supply?
There is currently a heated debate in the EU over the extent and speed with which Russian energy imports should be halted because of the war. According to estimates by economist Simone Tagliapietra of the think tank Bruegel, the EU currently spends €15 million a day on coal, around €400 million on gas and €450 million on Russian oil.
Regarding the visit to Kiev and the energy issue, Borrell said, “That’s the big elephant in the room.” EU countries have just decided to ban coal imports with a four-month transition period. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy immediately called for tougher measures.
On the way to Kiev, Borrell confirmed that an oil embargo would likely come sooner than a gas embargo. Austria also depends on Russia for around 80% of its gas reserves and has so far rejected this embargo. At the EU foreign ministers’ meeting on Monday, the topic of energy sanctions will be on the table.
(APA/dpa)