Deplorable results of Ukraine-EU military summit
2023.02.03 03:13
Deplorable results of Ukraine-EU military summit
By Kristina Sobol
Budrigannews.com – On Friday, leaders of the European Union will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv. The meeting will bring the promise of new sanctions against Russia, but it will likely end Ukraine’s hope of joining the EU quickly.
Ursula von der Leyen, who is in charge of the group’s executive committee, made the symbolic train ride to Kyiv on Thursday to show her support for Ukraine as the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of its neighbor on February 24, 2022, nears.
Von der Leyen and Charles Michel, chairman of the 27 EU national leaders, will hold talks with Zelenskiy on Friday. They met with their counterparts in the Ukrainian government.
Zelenskiy urged the European Union to take more severe sanctions against Russia, but the new sanctions the bloc is preparing for the anniversary are unlikely to meet the demands of his government.
Zelenskiy said of the talks on Thursday, “We reached a very important mutual understanding.” “That we can only defend the life that we value only together – a strong Ukraine and a strong European Union – and provide energy and motivation for our people to fight on regardless of obstacles and threats through our further integration.”
Despite its support for democratic and economic reforms in Ukraine, the EU does not offer a fast track to membership while Ukraine is in conflict.
Officials from the EU have listed a number of entry requirements, including the adoption of various EU laws and political and economic stability. Most likely, the process will take years.
An official from the EU stated, “Some may want to speculate about the end game, but the simple truth is that we are not there yet.”
In 2013, Croatia became the last nation to officially apply to join the EU. Poland, a neighbor of Ukraine, waited 20 years before joining in 2004.
Shortly after the invasion, Ukraine submitted an application to join, and in June, the EU granted it formal candidate status.
According to EU officials, the talks on Thursday included providing Ukraine with more money, arms, and access to the EU market for its goods, assisting Kiev in covering its energy needs, imposing sanctions on Russia, and prosecuting its leadership for the war.
The Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper reported on Friday, citing government sources, that the German government has approved the delivery of Leopard 1 tanks from industrial stocks to Ukraine and is in talks to purchase back 15 Gepard tanks from Qatar to send there.
The EU has demanded that Ukraine implement additional anti-corruption measures because it is believed to have widespread state graft and must establish credibility.
To that end, Zelenskiy said this year that the defense ministry needs to be clean, and he said that some officials would be investigated and fired.
Officials announced on Thursday that senior military officials were the subjects of an investigation into two alleged instances of corruption. The State Bureau of Investigation announced the arrest of a criminal group that was suspected of stealing state funds by selling defense officials overpriced eggs and other food items.
Russian pressure on Ukrainian forces intensifies in eastern battlegrounds, as well as in the northeast and south, at the same time as the EU-Ukraine summit.
According to Serhiy Cherevatiy, a spokesperson for the eastern front of the Ukrainian armed forces, Russia’s main advantage is the number of troops it can deploy.
He stated to Ukrainian radio NV:
“They bring in men from their draft and try to find places to break through our defenses in a systematic way.” The objective is to achieve the leadership’s goal of taking control of the entire Donetsk region. However, this strategy has been disrupted for several consecutive months.”
In Washington, CIA Director William Burns stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin was not serious about negotiations and that developments on the battlefield over the next six months would be “absolutely crucial.”
Burns addressed a gathering at Georgetown University, adding:
“It seems to us that the key is going to be on the battlefield in the next six months.” shaming Putin’s arrogance; making it clear that he will not only be unable to advance further in Ukraine, but that he will also run an increasing risk of losing the territory he has illegally seized from Ukraine up until this point.”
The Ukrainian military reported late on Thursday that Russian forces carried out two strikes on the town of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region, causing damage to buildings and some casualties among civilians. Three people were killed on Wednesday when an apartment building in the town was struck by a Russian missile.
According to the report, Ukrainian aircraft carried out four raids on one command post and concentrations of Russian troops.
Russia denies the allegations made by Ukraine and its Western allies that Russian forces committed war crimes and targeted civilians.
In order to safeguard Russian security, Putin issued an order he described as a “special military operation.” Russia is accused by Ukraine and its allies of waging an unprovoked war to seize territory.
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