Ukrainian PM urges EU to stand firm against Russia, as more weapons requested
Ukrainian PM has said the country and the EU must not waver in the face of Russian aggression as he urged the EU to provide more firepower.
PM Denys Shmyhal was in Brussels to meet with top European officials where he made his case for continued Kyiv support.
“Russia wages a hybrid war in the European continent against the European Union. The gas blackmail, the oil blackmail, creation of the food crisis, migrant crisis, misinformation, cyberattacks,” he said.
“But abandoning Ukraine alone against Russia – that would just be one of those steps for the further movement of Russia deeper into Europe. The only salvation is for Europe to be united.”
The EU has been supplying weapons, ammunition and other types of assistance – including billions of euros in economic support, to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February.
Global sanctions are taking their toll on the Russian economy but there is concerns that the EU resolve may falter as inflation and energy prices rise.
The Ukrainian PM has said that Ukraine needs more help.
“Unfortunately, we see no signs that Russia is willing to stop the war. This is why we need more modern weapons, such as air defense, missile defense, anti-ship defense” as well as armored vehicles and aircraft, he said.
But the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, said the bloc will not backtrack on its commitments.