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Europe travels to Kyiv – Foreign Minister Baerbock attends the informal meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Ukraine
Family foto at the informal meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Ukraine, © European Union
Today the EU Foreign Ministers are gathering for the first time for an informal meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Kyiv. Find out more about which issues are on the agenda.
The Foreign Ministers of the EU27 have travelled to Ukraine today for an informal meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council. This morning, instead of convening in Brussels or Luxembourg as usual, they jointly arrived in Kyiv. In travelling to Ukraine they are sending a clear message of support and solidarity with Ukraine along its path towards the European Union.
Foreign Minister Baerbock in Kyiv today (02 October):
With this Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Kyiv we are bringing the European Union to where the heart of Europe is currently beating most strongly. The future of Ukraine lies in the European Union, our community of freedom. This will soon stretch from Lisbon to Luhansk.
Winter air defence shield and direct support
The location is highly symbolic, yet the content of our discussions will centre on substantial and concrete issues concerning further support for Ukraine. In informal talks with both Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba and President Zelensky, the EU27 will discuss how they can span a winter air defence shield over Ukraine. For Russia’s war strategy still aims to harm and wear down the civilian population by destroying power plants, roads and energy lines. The goal is not only to strengthen Ukraine’s capacity to directly protect critical infrastructure but also to supply replacement parts such as generators and transformers as well as make available financial resources.
EU reforms and long-term prospects
In addition to providing direct support for the coming winter, the focus is also on the long-term prospect of EU membership and further support for Ukraine along its path towards the European Union. Extensive reforms are necessary in order for Ukraine to be able to join. In July 2022, the EU Commission defined seven key priorities, particularly in the area of justice and the rule of law, which must be fulfilled before accession talks can begin. Despite the war, Ukraine is pursuing a determined reform agenda and has made considerable progress over the past months. Today’s talks will also centre on how to support Ukraine further as it addresses these reforms.
Foreign Minister Baerbock in Kyiv today (02 October):
With every village, every metre that Ukraine liberates, it smooths its way towards the European Union, metre by metre. And we as European partners and friends will continue to support Ukraine in this endeavour, day by day.
Security guarantees are another item on the agenda. At the NATO summit in Vilnius last July, the G7, the European Union and Ukraine adopted a joint declaration on security pledges for the country. What form these could take is one of the points to be discussed, along with the fundamental question of how to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience.