The foreign ministers of the UK, France, Spain, Germany, Italy and Poland and the European Union’s (EU) high representative for foreign and security policy issued a joint statement after meeting with the European Union. Ukrainian counterpart in Berlin (Germany) on December 12.
“The goals of a lasting, just and comprehensive peace for Ukraine and sustainable security for Europe are inseparable. Ukraine must win,” the statement read. This statement was posted on the website of the German Foreign Ministry.
Ukrainian soldiers fire self-propelled artillery toward Russian positions at an undisclosed location in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine on November 18.
The above countries pledged to support the end of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in “full respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”, supporting Ukraine “on its irreversible path”. is towards full Euro-Atlantic integration, including joining NATO”, as well as “the path towards joining the European Union”.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga thanked the six countries and the EU for the “frank discussion and readiness to take concrete steps”. Mr. Sibiga called for additional sanctions to be imposed, targeting Russia’s metallurgical, shipping and banking industries, according to RT.
Previously, the Kremlin said that Ukraine should abandon its plan to join NATO in favor of becoming a permanently neutral country. Russian President Vladimir Putin has cited NATO’s eastward expansion and military cooperation with Ukraine as one of the root causes of the nearly three-year-long Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to RT.
Also on December 12, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that President Joe Biden’s administration would provide a new arms aid package worth $500 million to Ukraine, according to Reuters.
The new aid package includes ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and High Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM), along with other support, according to Blinken.
Earlier the same day, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby announced that the US would continue to provide additional aid packages to Ukraine until the end of the term of President Biden’s administration.
More than 10 days ago, Washington announced that it would send Ukraine missiles, ammunition and other weapons, with a total value of 725 million USD.
The outgoing administration of President Biden is looking for ways to support Ukraine in fighting Russia’s military campaign, before Mr. Biden’s term ends in January 2025, when President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
In an interview broadcast by Suspilne television on the evening of December 12, Chief of Staff of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak said that Kyiv is not yet ready to start negotiations with Russia because it lacks weapons, security guarantees and international status they seek, according to Reuters.
