Support for Ukraine
Two years after the onset of the full-scale Russian invasion, the G7 leaders pledged to support Ukraine as long as needed.
Corina Cristea, 26.02.2024, 14:00
With the number of casualties on the rise, ammunition and troops in short supply, with US financial aid stalled and the prospect of Donald Trump’s presidency on the horizon, Ukrainians are fearful, after two years of war, of what the future may have in store for them. Kyiv recognizes that the situation is extremely difficult for its forces but remains equally determined to win. “Ukraine will succeed” President Volodymyr Zelensky stated, on February 24, with the same conviction as in the first days of the conflict, from Hostomel airport, captured by the Russian troops in the first hours of the invasion and the scene of violent fights. The EU remains just as determined in its support for Kyiv. More than ever, we strongly support Ukraine – financially, economically, militarily, and morally. Until the country is finally free, said the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who welcomed the extraordinary resistance of the Ukrainian people. Going to Kyiv together with the Italina Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, the Prime Minister of Belgium, Alexander De Croo, and the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, the head of the EC announced the transfer to Ukraine, in March, of a first tranche of the macro-financial aid worth 50 billion Euros offered to Kyiv from the EU budget until 2027.
At the end of a G7 video conference summit led from Kyiv by the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the leaders of the seven most developed countries promised on Saturday that they would support Ukraine as long as needed, adding that they would look for ways to make Russia pay for the damage caused by the invasion. The G7 countries also committed “to act against third parties that materially support Russia’s war, including by imposing new measures against entities in third countries”. ‘We urge the approval of additional aid to cover Ukraine’s outstanding budget needs in 2024’ the G7 statement also said, alluding to the blocking by the Republicans in the US Congress of the additional 61.4 billion dollars financial assistance package requested by the Democrat President Joe Biden.
On Saturday, in Kyiv, President Zelenski signed, on the other hand, bilateral security agreements with the Italian and Canadian prime ministers. Italy and Canada thus joined Great Britain, Germany, France and Denmark in concluding a 10-year security agreement with Kyiv – agreements meant to strengthen Ukraine’s security until it becomes a NATO member. Also on Saturday, one day after the EU approved its 13th package of sanctions against Russia, Britain announced a 245-million-pound-sterling worth of financial package to help Ukraine rebuild its ammunition stocks. (LS)
