Foreign Ministers of European Union Nations Meet in Kyiv to Discuss Aid for Ukraine
Kyiv, Ukraine – Foreign ministers from several European Union (EU) nations gathered in Kyiv on Monday for a historic meeting that focused on providing additional aid to Ukraine. The meeting, hailed as “historic” by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, culminated in Borrell proposing up to 5 billion euros, or about $5.2 billion, in additional aid to Ukraine.
The meeting in Kyiv marked the first time EU foreign ministers gathered outside of EU territory and in a country at war, according to Borrell. He stated that by coming to Kyiv, the EU’s foreign ministers sent a strong message of solidarity and support to Ukraine in the face of the ongoing war.
The meeting also featured discussions on Ukraine’s aspirations to join the European Union. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his commitment to implementing the recommendations necessary for the start of negotiations for EU membership. Zelensky referred to Ukraine as “a leader in protecting the very foundations on which European unity rests.”
Despite recent developments in Washington, where a short-term funding bill stripped of additional aid for Ukraine was passed to avert a government shutdown, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba expressed confidence that US lawmakers will continue supporting Ukraine’s war effort. He said, “We are now working with both sides of Congress to make sure that it does not repeat again.” Republican leaders, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Sen. Lindsey O. Graham, have signaled that more aid is in the pipeline.
In response to ongoing threats, the city of Kharkiv plans to build Ukraine’s first underground school to protect against missile attacks. Mayor Ihor Terekhov announced that 60 classrooms have already been set up inside subway stations, allowing over 1,000 children to continue their studies underground.
Poland has also stepped up its support for Ukraine by delivering the first batch of refurbished Leopard tanks. The Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), an industrial partner of the Polish Armed Forces, announced on social media that it is working on repairing more tanks for Kyiv.
In addition, Germany and Denmark have provided Ukraine with additional military support. Germany supplied thousands of rounds of ammunition and various vehicles, including two mine-clearing tanks, 14 tracked all-terrain vehicles, and 12 semitrailers. Denmark pledged an additional $14 million in ammunition for Ukraine.
The meeting in Kyiv and the international support for Ukraine aimed to demonstrate unity and solidarity with Ukraine and send a clear message to Russia. The situation in Ukraine remains tense, with attacks reported in the region of Kherson, resulting in two deaths and seven injuries.
As the war in Ukraine continues, international alliances and aid play a crucial role in supporting the country and protecting its sovereignty. The EU’s commitment to providing additional aid, along with support from the United States and other nations, is seen as crucial in maintaining the stability and security of Ukraine.