A strong army and sanctions against Russia: European leaders discuss support for Ukraine
A meeting of leaders from over 30 EU countries was held in Paris to discuss how to help Ukraine and ensure security in Europe. The main focus was on weapons and sanctions.
Photo: Zelenskiy / Official / Telegram
At the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron, leaders of more than 30 European countries gathered in Paris to discuss ways to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took part in the talks. In total, delegations from 31 countries, as well as representatives of the EU and NATO, attended the summit.
The main topic of the meeting was the need for continued support for Ukraine.
The participants agreed that a stable peace is impossible without a strong Ukrainian army. For example, Germany has already allocated over 7 billion euros in aid to Kyiv for 2024 and will continue its funding.
Scholz urged Russia to accept Ukraine’s ceasefire proposal, stressing that the Kremlin has shown no real interest in peace. He also opposed lifting anti-Russian sanctions, calling such a move a “serious mistake.”
According to the chancellor, Europe’s security can only be ensured through unity, strength, and continued support for Ukraine.
European leaders at the Paris summit also agreed to increase aid to Ukraine, planning to allocate 17 billion euros for weapons, deliver 2 million artillery shells, and strengthen cooperation with Ukraine’s defense industry. Support will continue until victory and a just peace are achieved.
Volodymyr Zelensky reported that after the summit, he and UK Prime Minister Starmer discussed its outcomes.
In their view, Russia is prolonging the war and is not ready for peace. Sanctions against Russia will remain in place as long as the aggression continues. Ukraine counts on further security guarantees and the unity of its allies.