1. This war will be won on the battlefield. Additional €500 million from the #EPF are underway. Weapon deliveries will be tailored to Ukrainian needs.
2.#WarCrimes: Brutal attack by Russia against defenceless civilians in #Kramatorsk again shows Kremlin’s complete disrespect of human life. It will only increase our support to Ukraine. Meeting tomorrow @IntlCrimCourt prosecutor to discuss tailored support, incl by @EUAM_Ukraine
3. We need to continue to increase our pressure on Russia. We have imposed massive sanctions already but more needs to be done on the energy sector, incl oil.
4.On Monday, I am convening an EU Foreign Affairs Council #FAC to discuss next steps.
#Ukraine will prevail and rise back even stronger. And the EU will continue to stand by you, every step of the way.
The post-1945 multilateral order is losing ground: we see more confrontation & polarity, less cooperation & multilateralism.
To tackle the challenges facing us in the 21st century, we need a fair assessment & decisive action.
A pleasure to talk today at @UniofOxford🧵1/10
China has risen to super-power status. Middle powers - India, Brazil, South Africa, KSA - are emerging as important actors on the global stage. As Europe we wanted to built a ring of friends & we are surrounded by a ring of fire, from Sahel to Middle East, Caucasus, Ukraine. 2/10
We see an acceleration of global trends, from climate change to demography. Inequalities growing, democracies declining, freedoms at risk.
What do we need?
- A clear assessment of Europe's main existential threat: Russia.
- A strong focus on principles, cooperation, strength 3/10
On 7 October, the horror of the terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel - with the massacre of 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of hundreds - shocked the world and plunged the region into a humanitarian and political tragedy.
Six months later, where do we stand?
🧵1/7
I add my voice to that of UNSG @antonioguterres in expressing the EU’s total condemnation of a brutality that no cause can justify.
By this indiscriminate attack, Hamas has totally disqualified itself.
The Palestinian people cannot be represented by this criminal group. 2/7
The Israeli people have our deepest sympathy. Israel has the right to defend itself, in full respect of international humanitarian law.
The EU has constantly asked for the unconditional release of all hostages.
In this tragedy, civilians are paying the highest price.
3/7
The Ukrainian army is one of the best in the world. They have proven to be.
Ukraine is resisting, fighting off the Russian aggression, which is trying to cruelly push the country into darkness and cold.
Humbled by the courageous soldiers and their will to defend their people.
The EU Military Assistance Mission for Ukraine is proof of our determination to support Ukraine: militarily, financially, economically & politically.
This Mission is unprecedented, pushing EU military cooperation to new levels. Over 20 Member States participate in it.
Today, #EUMAM has reached its full initial operational capability.
1,100 soldiers are already being trained.
The Mission will generate training offers to address Ukrainian needs and we are going to provide resources: €16 million for lethal equipment for training purposes.
In 1975 our predecessors signed the Helsinki Final Act, agreeing on a core set of principles: renouncing the use of force, respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and protecting human rights and freedoms.
Today, Russia is violating all these @OSCE commitments.
Russia has brought war back to Europe. It is throwing Ukraine into cold & darkness, and beyond its brutal attack on Ukraine and it’s people continues its deeply destabilising role in Georgia’s breakaway regions and Transnistrian region of Moldova. We need to be united against it.
The @OSCE institutions and operations continue their efforts to bring stability in this grim environment. The EU will continue its steadfast support to the organisation.
We will provide €1.2 million for OSCE demining activities in Ukraine.
Many ask whether the sanctions adopted by the EU and like-minded partners against Russia are effective.
Read my new blog post to know why the clear answer is yes: (1/5) europa.eu/!PPQkkQ
Since Russia invaded Ukraine, the EU has adopted six packages of sanctions. Our measures target nearly 1,200 individuals and almost 100 entities in Russia and a significant number of economic sectors. (2/5)
Sanctions hit substantially the Russian economy depriving it from access to financial markets and to advanced technology products, crippling the oil industry, the airlines, the military and automotive industries. (3/5)