The EU commission President Ursula von der Leyen has again thrown her weight fully behind Ukraine following fresh backlash against Donald Trump’s diesel deal with Russia.
This comes following her call with Ukraine President Zelenskyy at the weekend where she said she “fully supported” the Ukrainian leader’s call for a ceasefire “that would protect global food supplies and energy infrastructure in Ukraine and Russia.”
She said, “The war has entered a new, grimmer phase. Russia is stalling on the battlefield and striking civilians far behind the front lines.”
US President Donald Trump is, according to media reports, facing a growing backlash over plans to import diesel from Russia as the Iran war continues to impact global energy prices.
President Trump on Friday announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to release 300,000 tonnes of diesel immediately “to the American and global marketplace” followed by several other shipments.
That is, the BBC goes on, despite signing legislation to authorise fresh US sanctions and tariffs on nations that import Russian oil and gas just weeks ago.
In a statement, von der Leyen said, “I conveyed our solidarity with the Ukrainian people and my full support for President Zelenskyy as he leads the fight for his people’s freedom.”
Ukraine, she said, will be “front and centre” at this week’s European Council in Brussels.
“We will discuss its funding needs for the year ahead and how to mobilise fresh global support.
“This week, the EU will also provide further funding for drones and missiles to strengthen Ukraine’s defences and protect its skies.
“We are also due to open two further clusters of chapters in the negotiations,” said the EU leader.
She concluded, “The momentum is real.”
When EU leaders gather in Brussels on Thursday and Friday this week, the EPP Group says it will be looking for “concrete progress towards a stronger and safer Europe.”
It says this means delivering on the EU’s long-term budget (MFF), defence, Ukraine, enlargement and migration.
“The Irish Presidency must ensure that unjustified cuts to the EU’s long-term budget don’t amputate Europe’s future. Member States must look beyond narrow national interests and focus on what Europe needs to deliver for its citizens,” said MEP Siegfried Mureșan.
He is the European Parliament’s co-negotiator on the long-term EU budget and EPP Group vice-chair, ahead of the presentation by the Irish Presidency of the Council’s negotiating “box” on MFF.
The EPP Group is also calling for further progress on European defence through continued support for Ukraine and stronger European military capabilities.
“There is no time to lose. EU Member States must be able to mobilise their defence potential quickly and effectively, using EU programmes that are simple, efficient and fit for purpose,” added another MEP, Andrzej Halicki, EPP Group vice-chair for Foreign Affairs.
Meanwhile, the second edition of the Open Progressive University – Progressive Ukraine Programme kicks off this week.
On Tuesday, 13 October, over 30 young professionals from Ukraine will start a 10-month programme offering them the opportunity to engage with prominent European and Ukrainian politicians, policy practitioners, and academics via live sessions, recorded lectures, and training sessions, while working through a series of required readings and completing academic assignments.
They will explore topics ranging from the current situation of Ukraine at war and Europe in a changing world to the reconstruction of Ukraine along social-democratic values, the country’s EU accession and preparation for membership, and the state of play of the Social Democratic political family in Europe.
The Progressive Ukraine Programme is co-organised by the S&D Group, alongside the Foundation of European Progressive Studies (FEPS) and PRO International, in support of young progressives in Ukraine.
