Warsaw (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Antonio Costa President of the European Council said that Russia poses a threat to the entire Europe, not only for Ukraine.
At a joint press conference with Polish PM Donald Tusk in Warsaw said,
“Russia is a threat, not only in Ukraine, but for European security as a whole, especially on the Eastern border, in Poland, the Baltic states, Romania, the eastern flank of the European Union,”
He further stated that the European Commission is composing
“a package of proposals to strengthen defence capabilities of Europe,”,
particularly of the EU’s eastern flank, saying that it will be examined at a special meeting of the European Council scheduled for March 6.
A day earlier, at the International Summit on the support of Ukraine, Costa expressed that
Russia is a threat to the international rules-based order.
Follow our joint statement with Prime Minister Tusk after our meeting in Warsaw https://t.co/BU0ilFaw9c
— António Costa (@eucopresident) February 25, 2025
What did Costa say about peace negotiations?
“Putin wants to divide us. We show here today that our support is strong, united and unchanged. There will be no credible and successful negotiation, no lasting peace, without Ukraine and without the European Union.”
Ukraine is the only country that can decide when the conditions are met to begin a peace negotiation, Costa said.
He further stressed that peace cannot be a simple ceasefire. According to him, peace needs to be a durable arrangement.
“Peace should not reward the aggression. We need to learn the lessons from the past, from the Budapest and Minsk agreements,”
Costa added. He stated only concrete and strong security assurances will ensure a comprehensive, just and enduring peace in Ukraine and in Europe as a whole.
The President of the European Council also said that the European Union is willing to do whatever it takes for its safety and to continue to help Ukraine.
“That is why I am convening a special European Council, next week, on 6 March, on supporting Ukraine and strengthening Europe’s defence.”
