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The gathering is going down amid a depressing counteroffensive outlook and US help issues
The international members of the EU’s member states convened their inaugural assembly exterior the bloc’s territory in Kiev on Monday.
“We’re convening a historic assembly of EU International Ministers right here in Ukraine, candidate nation and future member of the EU,” Borrell mentioned in a publish on X (previously Twitter) previous to the assembly.
The aim of this gathering in Kiev, as Borrell defined, is “to specific our solidarity and assist to the Ukrainian folks.”
Individually, in feedback made alongside Ukrainian FM Dmitry Kuleba, the EU international coverage chief defined that the assembly might be “casual,” because it’s going down exterior the bloc’s borders.
Ministers will interact in a “high-level political debate” throughout this session, though no particular conclusions or selections are anticipated. The main focus might be on assessing the state of affairs on the battlefield and “brainstorming” methods to assist Ukraine additional in its battle with Russia.
Among the many subjects on the agenda is the promotion of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s so-called ten-point peace plan, which requires Russian withdrawal from territories claimed by Kiev, conflict reparations from Moscow, and a conflict crimes tribunal. Russia has promptly rejected this proposal as “unrealistic,” viewing it as an indication of Kiev’s unwillingness to resolve the disaster diplomatically.
The assembly got here at a time when Russia claims that the much-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive has faltered. Final month, Russian President Putin acknowledged that over 71,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed for the reason that operation started in early June. Ukraine’s territorial beneficial properties have been restricted to capturing just a few small villages distant from the primary Russian protection traces.
There are additionally issues in regards to the circulation of US help following the absence of Ukrainian funding within the current last-minute finances deal struck by Congress late on Saturday to avert a US authorities shutdown.
On Sunday, nevertheless, Borrell promised that Brussels would “proceed supporting and growing our assist” to Ukraine no matter Washington’s selections.
In line with EU information, the bloc and its member states have already supplied Ukraine with over $88 billion in help for the reason that begin of the Russia-Ukraine battle in February 2022.
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