The President of the European Council defended today that the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine changed the paradigm of the European Union (EU) and triggered the birth of European defense, which he said was essential for the future of the 27.
“To win peace we need to strengthen our defense and our capabilities”, sustained Charles Michel, at the opening of a debate in the European Parliament, in Strasbourg (France), on the priorities of the European Council of 23 and 24 March.
The President of the Council recalled that three days after the start of the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine, on February 24, 2022, the EU Member States agreed on economic, financial and military assistance to Ukraine.
“This marked a change in the paradigm of the European Union and triggered the birth of European defence”, completed Michel before the MEPs.
European defence, continued the president of the European Council, will be fundamental for the future of the community bloc, in the same way that it is an “urgent need to continue to support Ukraine”.
In recent months, the Armed Forces loyal to the Kremlin “fired between 20,000 and 50,000 artillery shells” of large caliber, so the European Union – in partnership with NATO Member States and other countries that support Kiev – must move forward as soon as possible with the production of ammunition and for which there is already a plan that was discussed last week by the ministers of defense of the Union.
“We would like to see an escalation, an escalation towards peace. All it takes is a decision by the aggressor to move forward with peace […], to withdraw his troops”, he advocated.
*With Lusa
