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“Peace cannot be just a simple ceasefire. It must be a lasting agreement,” said the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, during his speech at the International Conference on Supporting Ukraine in Kyiv.
“Peace should not reward the aggressor. We must learn from the past, from the Budapest and Minsk agreements. Only concrete and strong security guarantees will ensure a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine and in Europe as a whole,” emphasized Antonio Costa, while also underlining that “the EU is ready to do whatever it takes for its security and to continue supporting Ukraine.” That’s why, he said, he decided to convene an extraordinary European Council on March 6, to support Ukraine and strengthen Europe’s defense.
“In very close cooperation with the European Commission and Ursula von der Leyen, we are ready to effectively fulfill our defensive capabilities and make substantial investments in them. We are ready to increase our economic and military support to Ukraine. And we are ready to build Ukraine’s future within the EU,” added Antonio Costa.
On the occasion of the third anniversary of the Russian invasion, Antonio Costa stated that “Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine” and that “the Russian aggressive war was unprovoked, unjustified, and illegal,” a war that “violates Ukraine’s sovereignty, its territorial integrity, its internationally recognized borders, and the fundamental principles of international law enshrined in the United Nations Charter.”
Ursula von der Leyen announced a new disbursement of aid, amounting to 3.5 billion euros to Kyiv
The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced today from Kyiv a new disbursement of aid, amounting to 3.5 billion euros, while emphasizing that Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined to force Ukraine into capitulation.
“Putin is trying more than ever to win this war on the ground. His goal remains the capitulation of Ukraine. And then we know what could happen next. Because it has happened before. It’s not only the fate of Ukraine that’s at stake. It’s also Europe’s destiny,” said Ursula von der Leyen, speaking at the summit in Kyiv, on the occasion of the third anniversary of the Russian invasion.
Von der Leyen emphasized that “our first priority remains strengthening Ukraine’s resistance,” noting that to date, the EU and its member states have provided aid amounting to 134 billion euros – “the largest amount from anyone else,” she said. “Thanks to the Ukraine Facility and the G7 loan, we’ve closed Ukraine’s fiscal gap for the entire year of 2025,” she noted.
The President of the Commission announced that a new disbursement, amounting to 3.5 billion euros for Ukraine, will be released in March. At the same time, she stressed the need to accelerate the prompt delivery of weapons and ammunitions, which will be the focus of efforts in the coming weeks. As she said, at the extraordinary European Council convened by its President, Antonio Costa, on March 6, she will present a “comprehensive plan on how to increase our European weapons production and defense capabilities.” From this plan, she said Ukraine will also benefit.
Additionally, Ursula von der Leyen announced that the Commission has prepared an ambitious package for energy security in Ukraine and the EU. As she said, the electricity market of Ukraine and Moldova will be fully integrated with the electricity market by the end of the next year. Furthermore, she added, “we will fully exploit the potential of Ukraine’s vast natural gas reserves, of which 80% are located near EU member states,” which will generate revenue for Ukraine. (24/2/2025)