2023-10-02 19:15:45
It was a very symbolic meeting which was held this Monday, October 2 in kyiv. The European Union foreign ministers met in the Ukrainian capital, welcomed by their Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kouleba. The meeting described as“historical” by Josep Borrell, the head of European diplomacy, had not been announced.
Only the Hungarian, Latvian and Polish ministers were missing, the latter two having cited health reasons. The ministers met with President Volodymyr Zelensky on site and held an informal council.
By making this trip, they wanted to demonstrate their determination to support Ukraine over the long term, as the idea takes hold that the conflict could be long. In Russia, the Kremlin is banking on the fatigue of democracies. “Wearyness will increase in different countries, particularly in the United States,” thus predicted the spokesperson for the Russian presidency, Dmitri Peskov.
“We will be here for a long time”
He was commenting on the fact that, in the United States, the American Congress voted on Sunday October 1 for a provisional financing law from which it excluded the aid plan for Ukraine. Dmitri Peskov also reacted to the victory in Slovakia of the populist Robert Fico, Saturday September 30, elected by assuring that he wanted to stop all military aid to his neighbor.
Faced with these signs of Western weakening, EU ministers on the contrary assured Ukraine of lasting solidarity. Europe will support Ukraine “until she can prevail”, said Catherine Colonna, the head of French diplomacy. “Russia must not count on our weariness, we will be here for a long time. »
#Ukraine | President @ZelenskyyUa at the Council of Ministers ???????? of Foreign Affairs, meeting exceptionally in kyiv.
A mark of our support for Ukraine ???????? against Russian aggression. A sign of Ukraine’s European future. pic.twitter.com/oww8KoTpfW
— Catherine Colonna (@MinColonna) October 2, 2023
The Europeans must soon decide on the opening of accession negotiations for Ukraine. A report on kyiv’s progress in integrating the Community acquis is due to be presented by the Commission in October. The EU is particularly calling for progress in the fight against corruption and justice reform. Then a decision is expected in December. The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, spoke of Ukraine’s possible accession in 2030.
“A winter protection plan”
In the meantime, German Minister Annalena Baerbock pleaded in kyiv for Europeans to adopt “a winter protection plan for Ukraine including air defense, generators and strengthening energy supplies”. Last winter was marked by a Russian bombing campaign which specifically targeted electrical transformers, in order to plunge the country into darkness and reduce the population’s resistance.
The Europeans are also changing their strategy on military aid. At the request of kyiv, a certain number of Western industrialists are studying the possibility of producing in Ukraine, in order to guarantee a sustainable supply. The country organized a first defense industries forum at the end of September and wants to reconvert its former Soviet factories to manufacture modern weapons in partnership with the West.
Interested French industrialists
Projects are multiplying: Sweden plans to establish production of CV90 armored personnel carriers in Ukraine. The German manufacturer of the Leopard tank, Rheinmetall, has confirmed that it wants to create a factory in the west of the country.
France is not absent: around twenty companies traveled to this forum, with the Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu. For the moment, it is mainly a question of producing spare parts on site for the equipment already supplied to Ukraine. But ultimately, strengthening the Ukrainian military industry is also a means of offering Kiev lasting guarantees for its security.
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kyiv places order with French manufacturers
Several French manufacturers concluded contracts during the defense industries forum organized in kyiv last week. Nexter, the French branch of the Franco-German KNDS group, will supply six additional Caesar cannons. Arquus has contracted to maintain and produce armored front vehicle parts on site. CEFA, an Alsatian SME, will supply eight SDZ heavy mine clearance robots and eight amphibious machines. The Delair company received a new order for 150 drones. Thales and Turgis & Gaillard have each signed an agreement with Ukrainian companies to co-develop drones, and Vistory will set up a 3D printing center in Ukraine to produce spare parts.
#kyiv #Europeans #affirm #longterm #support