Ukraine needs less applause and more arms says Borrell ahead of NATO meeting

Ukraine needs more arms to resist Russian aggression, EU High Representative Josep Borrell said today as he arrived at the NATO Ministerial meeting in Brussels.

“The important thing is to continue putting pressure on Russia and continue supporting Ukraine. Zelenskyy has a lot of support, but what he really needs is more arms. Less applause and more arms. Good words are good, but the important thing are practical issues,” Borrell told reporters.

“Today – I hope – the 5^th package of sanctions will be finally approved by the ambassadors and by written procedure by the Foreign Affairs Council. I hope that when I will go to Kyiv I could announce that, and other measures,” he added.

Borrell and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will be travelling to Kyiv in the coming days, visiting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov.

Asked about an oil embargo on Russia, Borrell replied: “It is not in the 5^th package of sanctions, which is being discussed today, it is only coal. But it will be discussed on Monday at the Foreign Affairs Council Ministers meeting. Sooner or later – I hope sooner – it will happen.” 

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