By Chris King • 08 April 2022 • 20:38
Von der Leyen and Borrell visit Ukraine, announcing full EU support. image: [email protected]
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, and Josep Borrell, the head of European diplomacy, arrived in Ukraine today, Friday, April 8. They were fully armed with the latest round of sanctions against Russia. Eduard Heger, the Prime Minister of Slovenia also travelled with them.
A message of full support from the European Union was announced, as had been requested by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “I am pleased to announce here, in Kyiv, that the European Union is going to allocate another €500 million from the European Peace Fund so that the Ukrainian army obtains weapons to defend its country and its people”, said Borrell.
Accompanied by Ukrainian Prime Minister, Denys Shmyhal, they also visited the city of Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv. This city is the location of an alleged horrific massacre of civilians by Russian forces. “It was important to start the visit in Bucha because in Bucha our humanity has been shattered”, declared Borrell, standing in front of several corpses wrapped in black plastic bags.
🇺🇦🇪🇺 President of Ukraine @ZelenskyyUa began his meeting with President of the European Commission @vonderleyen and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy @JosepBorrellF who arrived in #Ukraine. https://t.co/Q8QExCDsFC — UKR Mission to the EU (@UA_EUMission) April 8, 2022
🇺🇦🇪🇺 President of Ukraine @ZelenskyyUa began his meeting with President of the European Commission @vonderleyen and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy @JosepBorrellF who arrived in #Ukraine. https://t.co/Q8QExCDsFC
— UKR Mission to the EU (@UA_EUMission) April 8, 2022
The head of European diplomacy also announced the launch of another project, with an investment of €7.5 million, to collect data on missing persons.
Yesterday, Thursday 7, Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, announced the plan to increase spending in Ukraine from 1,000 to €1.5 billion. This still needs to be confirmed by the 27 member states. It will enable the Ukrainian military to have more weapons, something that is seen as vital by both the EU, and the Ukrainian leader.
Borrell reiterated his statement from earlier this week that Zelenskyy needs “less applause and more weapons, because good words are fine, but in the end what they need is more resources, and more military capacity to resist Russia’s aggression”.
He also made an observation that from his visit in person to Ukraine today, he saw signs that “Ukraine controls its territory” and with a government at the helm. Showing even greater solidarity with Kyiv, it was announced during their visit that the European delegation office will reopen in the Ukrainian capital
“The EU returns to Kyiv”, Said Borrell, adding, “I mean it literally: our head of delegation has returned to Kyiv, so that we can work together even more directly and closely”, as reported by elperidoico.es.
We bear witness to harrowing images in #Bucha today with Prime Minister @Denys_ShmyhalDestruction,atrocities committed by Russia & the unspeakable price paid by innocent Ukrainian people.The #WarCrimes Russia committed in Bucha & elsewhere must be investigated+prosecuted. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/LKfgEUh3mo — Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) April 8, 2022
We bear witness to harrowing images in #Bucha today with Prime Minister @Denys_ShmyhalDestruction,atrocities committed by Russia & the unspeakable price paid by innocent Ukrainian people.The #WarCrimes Russia committed in Bucha & elsewhere must be investigated+prosecuted. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/LKfgEUh3mo
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) April 8, 2022
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Originally from Wales, Chris spent years on the Costa del Sol before moving to the Algarve where he is a web reporter for The Euro Weekly News covering international and Spanish national news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at [email protected]
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