This was stated by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, ahead of the EU Council meeting on foreign affairs at the defense ministers’ level.
The top EU diplomat emphasized that this week might be critical for the peace negotiation process in Ukraine.
“This could be a decisive week for diplomacy. Yesterday we heard that the talks in America were tough but productive. We do not yet know the outcomes, but today I will discuss this with Ukraine’s Minister of Defense as well as with the Minister of Foreign Affairs,” Kallas said.
It is expected that Ukraine’s Minister of Defense, Denys Shmyhal, will personally attend the EU Council meeting today in Brussels, where support for Ukraine will be discussed.
“We have two broad topics. The first is how to continue supporting Ukraine, and the second concerns our own defense readiness and capabilities, which we need to strengthen,” Kallas explained regarding today’s Council agenda.
She added that “it is clear that Russia does not want peace, and therefore we must make Ukraine as strong as possible so it is ready to defend itself in this very, very difficult time.”
“If they were together with the Europeans, they would definitely be much stronger. But I believe that the Ukrainians are capable of standing up for themselves.,” the top EU diplomat added.
