Russia and its leadership bear full responsibility for the aggression in Ukraine. At the same time, the European Union will continue to provide Kyiv with regular and predictable financial support.
That’s according to a joint statement made by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, European Council President Antonio Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ukrinform reports.
“Three years ago Russia started its full-scale and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. Russia’s brutal war deliberately targets civilian and critical infrastructure. The Ukrainian people have shown bravery in defending their country and the core principles of international law. We pay tribute to all those who have sacrificed their lives and have lost loved ones for Ukraine’s independence and freedom,” the statement reads.
They said that Russia and its leadership bear sole responsibility for this war and the atrocities committed against the Ukrainian population.
“We continue to call for accountability for all war crimes and crimes against humanity committed. We welcome the recent steps made towards the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine,” the EU stressed.
The bloc’s leaders recalled that the European Union had provided Ukraine with economic, humanitarian, financial and military assistance worth EUR 135 billion, including EUR 48.7 billion of military assistance.
“The European Union will continue to provide Ukraine with regular and predictable financial support, including reconstruction of the country after the war,” the statement said.
The statement also mentioned the European Union’s adoption on Monday of the 16th package of sanctions against Russia “to further increase collective pressure on Russia to end its war of aggression.”
“Together with our partners, we have imposed unprecedented sanctions against Russia and those involved in the war, and we remain ready to increase pressure on Russia to limit its ability to wage war,” the statement said.
In parallel, the bloc has taken unprecedented actions at the EU level to ramp up European defense industry production and will continue to increase its capacity, the statement said. This, in particular, will allow the EU to step up its military support and cooperation with Ukraine.
The EU leaders stressed that Ukraine “is part of our European family,” recalling the granting of Ukraine the status of a candidate country for accession to the EU and the start of accession negotiations.
“We are already integrating Ukraine into the EU’s internal market. The future of Ukraine and its citizens lies within the European Union,” they said.
The statement also noted that Ukraine has made significant progress in accession related reforms “under the most challenging circumstances.”
“In a challenging international and geopolitical environment, we stress the importance of maintaining transatlantic and global solidarity with Ukraine,” the EU leaders said, stressing the need to ensure the international community’s continued focus on supporting Ukraine in achieving “a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace based on the Ukrainian peace formula.”
“We stand firm with Ukraine, reaffirming that peace, security, and justice will prevail,” the EU leaders concluded.
On February 24, EU foreign ministers adopted the 16th package of sanctions against Russia in connection with its aggression against Ukraine.
Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed the opinion that Ukraine is responsible for Russia’s invasion three years ago, stating that Kyiv could have made a deal then and avoided the conflict.
Source: Russia, its leadership fully responsible for war in Ukraine – EU
