Costa: EU to step up pressure on Russia until it ends killing
The European Union will step up pressure on Russia until it ends the killing and shows a genuine commitment to peace.
European Council President António Costa said this following a meeting with Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev in Sofia, according to an Ukrinform correspondent citing the European Council press service .
“Europe's security is also about enlargement. Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans belong inside our Union: each moving forward on its own merits, and each of them treated equally. It is the most important geopolitical investment the European Union can and should make,” Costa said.
He noted that while candidate countries must implement the necessary reforms and honor their previous commitments, “at the same time, it is important that we also play our part by engaging in a constructive dialogue with them and by recognizing progress when it is made.”
Costa separately highlighted the importance of continuing joint efforts to assist Ukraine in its war against Russia and noted Russia’s increasingly hostile behavior toward the EU.
“Our determination in supporting Ukraine as it defends itself and works towards a just and lasting peace has never wavered. And as you know, Russia's hostile behavior goes beyond Ukraine. We see it on the European Union territory: drones at our borders, cyber-attacks, disruption of critical infrastructure, attempts to undermine our democracies. It is time for Russia to stop this war and not to escalate it,” Costa stressed.
He added that threats and intimidation from Russia would not diminish the EU’s determination to support Ukraine “for as long as it takes, until a just and long-lasting peace is reached.”
“Russia must understand that Europe will not relent. On the contrary, we will intensify the pressure on Russia until it ends the killing and shows a genuine commitment to peace. It’s time to stop the war. It’s time to cease fire and open real peace negotiations,” Costa concluded.
As reported by Ukrinform, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU would not yield to Russian threats and would not tolerate hybrid attacks on its territory.