EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell convened Sunday an extraordinary meeting via VTC in view of the ongoing grave aggression of Russia against Ukraine.
Poland has offered to be a hub to transport the arms to Ukraine.
Two Russian media oulets, Russia Today and Sputnik are banned from broadcasting in the European Union. ”Because they are the champions of information manipulation,” Borrell said.
‘’I will propose to Ministers to use the European Peace Facility for two emergency assistance measures. These aim to finance the supply of lethal material to the heroic Ukrainian army, which is fighting with fierce resistance against the Russian invaders and provide urgently needed non-lethal supplies, such as fuel,” stated EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell as he convened Sunday an extraordinary meeting via VTC in view of the ongoing grave aggression of Russia against Ukraine.
Borrell’s proposal follows a direct request made by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, on Friday, during his address to EU Foreign Ministers.
Borrell will propose to provide a measure composed of lethal equipment, such as ammunition, and a measure for non-lethal equipment and supplies to the Ukrainian army, such as fuel and urgent medical supplie, the EU’s external service said. For a value of €450 million support package and €50 million more for the non-lethal supplies.
”All this will be covered by our European Peace Facility and inter-governmental fund. This is the first time in history that we will be doing that. Everybody agreed – or at least did not obstruct – this decision,” Borrell said at a press conference following the ministerial meeting, the fourth in one week.
Poland has offered to be a hub to transport the arms to Ukraine.
The EU High Representative also discussed with the EU Foreign Ministers the announcement of tough economic sanctions, made by a number of countries and the European Commission, including the exclusion of a certain number of Russian banks from SWIFT, preventing the Russian Central Bank from deploying its international reserves, acting against the people and entities who facilitate the war in Ukraine and the harmful activities of the Russian government. In order to isolate Russia, the EU has also decided to close the European Union airspace to the Russian aircrafts. Not a single Russian aircraft will be able to land or to take off from the European Union airfields.
Within the sanctions, the EU has taken measures to counter disinformation by the Russians. Two Russian media oulets, Russia Today and Sputnik are banned from broadcasting in the European Union. ”Because they are the champions of information manipulation,” Borrell said.
”These are unprecedented times. Because the war is back in our borders. That is why it is a defining moment for European history, a page of history has been turned and we have been working around the clock during these days,” Borrell stressed. 44I am proud to see that the European Union has been able to show its capacity to deliver, to help its neighbours with the idea of urgency. This is good, to be able to deliver with the idea of urgency when one of our neighbours and partners is being invaded by Russia,” he said.