EU Foreign Affairs Council discusses Ukraine’s pressing needs

The Foreign Affairs Council, gathered on 22 July, discussed the Russian aggression against Ukraine among other topics. Numerous ministers condemned Russia’s missile attacks against civilians, and the recent attack against the Children’s Hospital in Kyiv.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba briefed his EU counterparts via video link on the latest developments on the ground and Ukraine’s most pressing needs, in particular in air defence systems and energy infrastructure.

The Council then focused on EU military support to Ukraine, touching on the need to unblock EU support under the European Peace Facility. 

Concerning the use of windfall profits stemming from immobilised Russian assets, EU High Representative Josep Borrell updated EU Ministers on progress towards the first transfer of €1.4 billion expected at the beginning of August, that will be used to finance the acquisition of priority military equipment (air defence, artillery systems and ammunition) and procurement from the Ukrainian defence industry.

Then the Council discussed the next steps following the Summit on Peace that recently took place in Switzerland. In this context, the High Representative stressed that the EU must do more to engage global partners all around the world, and that the Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula remains the only real peace plan supported by the EU.

“The only one who is pro-war is Putin, who is calling for Ukraine’s partition and rendition as preconditions for any talks and any ceasefire.  And he sends reminders every day in the form of thousands of missiles, drones, glide bombs, and more military offensive. So, if you want to talk about the war party, talk about Putin, not about the European Union,” Borrell said.

The ministers also discussed the resilience of the Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Borrell reminded that a high percentage of Ukraine’s electricity generation capacity has been damaged or destroyed or is out of the territorial control by the Ukrainian government. 

Borrell also asked ministers to start mobilising now to provide more power generation capacity to Ukraine, including through the Ukraine Energy Support Fund.

“Putin wants to put Ukraine into darkness and cold. That is why the coming 2 or 3 months will be crucial. We have no time to waste before winter arrives,” he said to the press after the Council.

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Press release