EU to offer voluntary military aid to Ukraine, keep pressuring Russia
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A statement issued at the conclusion of the European Council's summit states that Russian assets will remain frozen under EU law.
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The round table inside the conference room used by the European Union Summit at the Europa Building Forum, in Brussels, on March 20, 2025 (AFP)
European Union member states will offer military support to Ukraine voluntarily, taking into account each nation's individual interests, according to the conclusions of the European Council's summit published on Thursday.
"All military support as well as security guarantees for Ukraine will be provided in full respect of the security and defence policy of certain Member States and taking into account the security and defence interests of all Member States," the document read.
It also underscored that a lasting peace must be accompanied by "robust and credible security guarantees" for Ukraine, to which EU member states can contribute.
However, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof confirmed that halting military aid to Ukraine is not under consideration.
Speaking at the European Council meeting in Brussels, Schoof stated that suspending military assistance as part of a potential peace deal was "non-negotiable".
The halt of military aid for Ukraine is "not an option" for most European countries, he said, affirming that the Netherlands will continue supporting Ukraine politically, financially, and militarily.
Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump discussed the war in Ukraine, agreeing to a proposal for a 30-day cessation of attacks on energy infrastructure. The Kremlin indicated that the cessation of foreign military aid to Ukraine is a key condition for peaceful conflict resolution.
EU to maintain pressure on Russia, keep assets frozen
Additionally, the European document reaffirmed that the EU remains committed to maintaining pressure on Russia, including further sanctions and strengthened enforcement of existing measures to weaken Moscow's capacity to sustain the conflict with Ukraine, while also stating that Russian assets will remain frozen under EU law.
While 26 of 27 EU member states signed the conclusion, the signatories reiterated their "peace through strength" approach, ensuring that Ukraine maintains "the strongest possible position, with its own robust military and defense capabilities as an essential component."
In the same context, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called for EU leaders to translate their verbal support for Ukraine into concrete actions, stressing the need for actual military aid, including ammunition, to assist Ukraine in its defense.
While some EU leaders have voiced their support for Ukraine, Kallas emphasized that actions must align with words. The "realistic plan would be the 5 billion [euros] for the ammunition and that is what we are working on right now," she said.
New EU defense strategy seen as disruptive to Russia-US dialogue on Ukraine: Moscow
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused the EU of intentionally disrupting the Russian-US dialogue aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict.
She remarked that the EU's defense strategy provisions, particularly military support for Ukraine, demonstrate Europe's intent to undermine efforts for a peaceful resolution.
"All this clearly demonstrates the immutability of the course taken by the leadership of the European Union and most of its members to undermine Russian-US efforts to build a dialogue to find ways to resolve the Ukrainian conflict peacefully," Zakharova told a briefing.
In a separate development, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu criticized French President Emmanuel Macron’s remarks on potentially using French nuclear weapons to defend the EU, describing them as a direct threat to global security.
Shoigu reminded Macron that Russia had previously assisted France in times of crisis, and warned against escalating anti-Russian rhetoric.
Read more: Hungary diverges from EU by proposing Ukraine as a 'buffer zone': FT
