2024-11-19 14:47 update: 2024-11-22, 14:38
Fot. PAP/Marcin Obara
The foreign ministers of five European Union's countries and the United Kingdom met in Warsaw on Tuesday, the 1,000th day of Russia's aggression on Ukraine, to talk about Europe's future and transatlantic relations.
The foreign ministers of Poland, Germany, France, Italy and Spain, Radoslaw Sikorski, Annalena Baerbock, Jean-Noel Barrot and Antonio Tajani, met in Warsaw on Tuesday to discuss Europe's defence and transatlantic relations in the current geopolitical environment. The future EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, was also present, while the foreign ministers of Spain, Jose Manuel Albares, and the United Kingdom, David Lammy, connected remotely.
Their counterpart from Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, was invited, but could not attend.
"The meeting should be a clear sign of our solidarity and unity with the Ukrainian nation... who are determined and brave in their fight for independence," Sikorski said at a press conference after the meeting.
He said that solutions to the conflict with Russia must be developed in close cooperation with Ukrainian authorities, adding that attendees at the meeting agreed to maintain and expand sanctions against Russia until it withdraws from Ukrainian territory and covers the cost of its reconstruction.
"We have no illusions, Putin's Russia remains one of the most serious threats not only to Europe's security, but also to the world's order," Sikorski said.
In Sikorski's assessment, the current geopolitical situation requires cooperation between the EU and the US, and Tuesday's discussions aimed at developing a consistent message for the new administration of US President-elect Donald Trump.
"Only strong transatlantic ties will allow us to effectively counteract the growing threats from Russia and other countries," Sikorski said.
He added that together with his counterparts they agreed that Europe "must take over more responsibility for its own security", which would mean better balancing the burden of participating in the NATO military alliance. Sikorski argued that Europe should strengthen its defence potential, along with maintained US involvement in European security.
Together with Kallas, the foreign ministers discussed ways to increase aid for Ukraine. "I am glad to see... that the biggest EU states are ready to take over the military and financial burden of supporting Ukraine in the context of potentially reduced US involvement," Sikorski said.(PAP)
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