The head of the EC highlighted Ukraine’s fight for European values. And Řehka repeated his warning

2023-05-31 11:40:00

In today’s speech, the head of the EU executive spoke mainly about the Russian war in Ukraine and the EU’s relations with the region of the Western Balkans. She emphasized that Europe is at a pivotal moment. She united and realized that she had to be an independent actor. In this context, she spoke about Ukraine and the Balkans. “It is not enough to just wait for our friends outside the union. We must bring the Union closer to them. This is what we do to Ukraine. And with a new initiative for the countries of the Western Balkans,” von der Leyen declared.

According to the President of the European Commission, Ukraine is also fighting for the freedom of Europe and its values, to which it subscribes itself. According to her, this is exactly what Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to destroy. “That is the true origin of this war,” she emphasized. “Putin expected Europe to just accept it… How wrong he was,” she said too.

Von der Leyen, who is a former German defense minister, spoke out in favor of continuing military aid to Ukraine, including support for the training of Ukrainian forces. According to her, 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers should be trained in this way by the end of the year. “Together with Ukraine, we want a just peace,” the head of the EC also said today.

The EU rightfully gave Ukraine candidate status, emphasized von der Leyen, who also spoke about the gradual integration of the Balkans into the Union. “We have extended to the Balkans the solidarity we have within the EU,” she emphasized and recalled, among other things, the gradual economic and trade integration of the region.

The path of the countries of the Western Balkans to the EU is to be accelerated by a new prosperity plan based, according to the head of the EU executive, on four pillars: bringing the Western Balkans closer to the EU single market, deepening regional economic cooperation, accelerating fundamental reform and increasing pre-accession financial support.

Rehka about the threat of Russia and war

“We are beginning to admit that Russia is a direct threat to us. A future conflict between Russia and the North Atlantic Alliance cannot be ruled out. I don’t think anybody wants it, I don’t think anybody plans it, not even the Russians. Russia, by its behavior and actions, is rather on the trajectory of conflict with us,” said Řehka. He added that Russia is becoming increasingly hostile and less predictable.

According to the general, admitting the possibility of war in Europe means consequences for the army and society. “Everything needs to be done to prevent this (conflict). We will prevent this by being prepared and determined,” said Řehka.

Thank you for your attention to our online coverage of events related to the conflict in Ukraine. You can expect more fresh news again tomorrow morning. Good night for now.

Bakhmut Mayor Oleksiy Reva announced in an interview on May 31 that since February 24, 2022, 204 residents of the once prosperous industrial city had been killed and 505 others injured. Among the victims are 17 injured children and four dead.

“Today, Bachmut is just rubble and ashes. It is hard to understand that the city that we all loved was completely wiped off the face of the earth by the occupiers. The entire infrastructure of Bachmut was completely destroyed,” Reva said.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Valery Zaluzhnyi, said on May 31 that he spoke by phone with the top US General Mark Milley about the situation at the front and military assistance. According to Zalužný, the two generals discussed the supply of long-range ammunition and other types of weapons and military equipment. Zaluzhny also gave Milley information about the planned Ukrainian counter-offensive and possible future steps by the Russian side.

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According to Řehka, the war in Ukraine shows that the benefits of Czech membership in NATO must be valued. “It’s that we are part of a strong alliance, not only military, but also political. The kind of nonsense we’ve heard that suits Russian narratives, how we should be neutral, and the bridge between East and West, that’s feverish delirium. Neutrality does not work by saying we are neutral. Neutrality works by having others agree that you will be neutral; that will not happen with us,” said the chief of the general staff. He added that without membership in the alliance, even more money would have to be spent on defense.