The West has made a number of errors in reports with Russia, including a promise to Ukraine to join NATO, the foreigner of the European Union policy chef Josep Borrell said on Friday.
“I am ready to admit that we made a number of errors and that we have lost the possibility of The rapprochement with Russia with the West,” he said. in an interview broadcast on the TF1 television channel. “There are times when we could do better, there are things we came up with that we couldn’t implement, like, for example, the promise that Ukraine and Georgia will be part of of NATO.”
“I think it’s a mistake make promises you can’t keep,” Borrell added.
For months, European leaders and NATO officials have been nurturing Kyiv with promises to accept Ukraine into the transatlantic alliance, as well as the European Union of 27 nations, angering Moscow. However, as soon like Russian military the operation started at the end of February, all the promises suddenly vanished.
Some of The 30 members of NATO countries provide weapons, ammunition and other equipment to Ukraine, but NATO as organization refused to do so. the organization announced that he will not launch any military action in support of Ukraine, which is a close partner but did not at the time clear perspective of joining.
EU leaders meeting in France on Thursday ruled out satisfy Ukraine demand for a fast- follow-up of the integration with the block, as they discussed ways to help the country that was invaded by Russia.
EU nations are fully united in support the Ukrainian resistance by adopting unprecedented economic sanctions against Russia over the past two weeks. But the leaders are divided on how fast Brussels could move to accept Ukraine as a member, and how quickly, the 27-nation bloc could sever energy ties with Moscow.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked for son country is urgently granted the EU membership as proof of support of its EU partners. A deal on this point, however, wont be reached during the two-day summit hosted in the palace of Versailles west of Paris, where French President Emmanuel Macron received son Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in 2017.
after nine hours of crisis talks, chiefs of states and government finished on first daytime of discussion with a deal on language recognizing Ukraine’s “European aspirations”, but they stopped net of go further in the process.
“It was an opportunity to show steadfast, firm support for Ukraine, that is to engage financiallymaterially”, declared the President of the Council of the EU, Charles Michel. clear that Ukraine is a member of the European family and U.S want for support every effort to strengthen and consolidate the links with Ukraine.”
For now, Ukraine only has an “association agreement” with the EU, which aims to open up Ukraine’s markets and bring it closer to Europe. It includes a far-reaching gratuity trade pact and contributes to modernizing Ukraine economy.
Ukrainian fast-track bid received hot support in Eastern European countries, but EU officials have stressed the process could take years, with unanimity among current members required for allow a newcomer in the club.
Macron said the EU should send a “strong signal” of support for Ukraine, but ruled out the possibility for the country to join the block at any time soon.
“Can we open today a procedure of membership (to the EU) with a country at war? I don’t think so,” Macron said. “Do we close the door and say (to Ukraine): ‘Never?’ It would be unfair.”
First Dutch minister Mark Rutte said he told Zelenskyy that Ukraine’s EU membership could not be accelerated up.
“There is not something like a fast track, a fast procedure,” Rutte said. ” We also must take into account the nations of the Western Balkans, who have sometimes worked for over a decade to simply become a candidate nation for membership. Think of Albania and Macedonia. let’s see what we can do in a practical sense.”
Another one key dissuasive for a hurry decision – to which Macron alluded – is the specific clause in the EU treaty that if one member is the victim of armed aggression, the other EU countries have the obligation to help and assist him by all means in their power.
But more specifically the Baltic countries, with their soviet past, want to reach out to Ukraine.
“His also important for show a clear open door for EU membership for Ukraine, that the path is open for that they take and that we, as family of democratic nations want them,” said Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins. “It’s very, very important for Ukrainians at the moment as a very important element signal.”
Leaders’ speeches also concentrated on how wean block off its dependence on Russian energy and strengthening the regionthat is defense capacities.
Possible new punishments against Russia and son ally Belarus – including cutting all their SWIFT dominant banks system for global financial transactions – were also on the table, according to an EU official who was not authorized to speak publicly.
“The energy sector is the Kremlin main The source of income, some 600 millions euros per day,” said Karins. “If we were to stop the purchase of Russian energy would stop funding of the Russian military machine.”
All leaders agree that the EU should reduce his addiction on imports of Russian gas, oil and coal while accelerating the green transition. The EU imports 90% of natural gas used to generate electricity, heat homes and the supply industry, with Russia providing almost 40% of EU gas and a quarter of son oil.
Earlier this week, the European Commission proposed to diversify natural gas supplies and speed up renewable energy development in an offer to reduce EU demand for Russian gas two-thirds before the end of the year.
Macron said the talks in Versailles were intended to determine how pace the EU can “reduce then remove” its dependence as year- the end date proposed by the commission seems unrealistic to many member states.
This is also unlikely leaders soon follow from washington lead and unanimously approve a full embargo on Russian oil and gas imports on Friday. France won’t defend what it sees as a drastic measure and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has made clear he opposes the idea.
Efforts to get along on a boycott are complicated because some EU countries including Germany and Italy, are much more dependent than others on Russia. Poland gets 67% of son oil from Russia, while Ireland receives only 5%.
Rutte said it was essential that the EU should “do not (leave) in a hurry in the direction of a complete to forbid on oil and gas from Russia.”
The EU has shown remarkable cohesion since the beginning of the war last month. He quickly passed massive sanctions targeting Putin himself, the financial system and its high-maintenance oligarchs. This also took the unprecedented step of collectively supplying arms to a country under attack.
According to a plan of conclusions of the summit obtained by the Associated Press, the leaders will agree in Versailles that they “must resolutely strengthen (their) investments in defense capabilities and innovation technologies”and to pursue efforts to make the EU “a more competent security provider.”
The West has made a number of errors in reports with Russia, including a promise to Ukraine to join NATO, the foreigner of the European Union policy chef Josep Borrell said on Friday.
“I am ready to admit that we made a number of errors and that we have lost the possibility of The rapprochement with Russia with the West,” he said. in an interview broadcast on the TF1 television channel. “There are times when we could do better, there are things we came up with that we couldn’t implement, like, for example, the promise that Ukraine and Georgia will be part of of NATO.”
“I think it’s a mistake make promises you can’t keep,” Borrell added.
For months, European leaders and NATO officials have been nurturing Kyiv with promises to accept Ukraine into the transatlantic alliance, as well as the European Union of 27 nations, angering Moscow. However, as soon like Russian military the operation started at the end of February, all the promises suddenly vanished.
Some of The 30 members of NATO countries provide weapons, ammunition and other equipment to Ukraine, but NATO as organization refused to do so. the organization announced that he will not launch any military action in support of Ukraine, which is a close partner but did not at the time clear perspective of joining.
EU leaders meeting in France on Thursday ruled out satisfy Ukraine demand for a fast- follow-up of the integration with the block, as they discussed ways to help the country that was invaded by Russia.
EU nations are fully united in support the Ukrainian resistance by adopting unprecedented economic sanctions against Russia over the past two weeks. But the leaders are divided on how fast Brussels could move to accept Ukraine as a member, and how quickly, the 27-nation bloc could sever energy ties with Moscow.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked for son country is urgently granted the EU membership as proof of support of its EU partners. A deal on this point, however, wont be reached during the two-day summit hosted in the palace of Versailles west of Paris, where French President Emmanuel Macron received son Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in 2017.
after nine hours of crisis talks, chiefs of states and government finished on first daytime of discussion with a deal on language recognizing Ukraine’s “European aspirations”, but they stopped net of go further in the process.
“It was an opportunity to show steadfast, firm support for Ukraine, that is to engage financiallymaterially”, declared the President of the Council of the EU, Charles Michel. clear that Ukraine is a member of the European family and U.S want for support every effort to strengthen and consolidate the links with Ukraine.”
For now, Ukraine only has an “association agreement” with the EU, which aims to open up Ukraine’s markets and bring it closer to Europe. It includes a far-reaching gratuity trade pact and contributes to modernizing Ukraine economy.
Ukrainian fast-track bid received hot support in Eastern European countries, but EU officials have stressed the process could take years, with unanimity among current members required for allow a newcomer in the club.
Macron said the EU should send a “strong signal” of support for Ukraine, but ruled out the possibility for the country to join the block at any time soon.
“Can we open today a procedure of membership (to the EU) with a country at war? I don’t think so,” Macron said. “Do we close the door and say (to Ukraine): ‘Never?’ It would be unfair.”
First Dutch minister Mark Rutte said he told Zelenskyy that Ukraine’s EU membership could not be accelerated up.
“There is not something like a fast track, a fast procedure,” Rutte said. ” We also must take into account the nations of the Western Balkans, who have sometimes worked for over a decade to simply become a candidate nation for membership. Think of Albania and Macedonia. let’s see what we can do in a practical sense.”
Another one key dissuasive for a hurry decision – to which Macron alluded – is the specific clause in the EU treaty that if one member is the victim of armed aggression, the other EU countries have the obligation to help and assist him by all means in their power.
But more specifically the Baltic countries, with their soviet past, want to reach out to Ukraine.
“His also important for show a clear open door for EU membership for Ukraine, that the path is open for that they take and that we, as family of democratic nations want them,” said Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins. “It’s very, very important for Ukrainians at the moment as a very important element signal.”
Leaders’ speeches also concentrated on how wean block off its dependence on Russian energy and strengthening the regionthat is defense capacities.
Possible new punishments against Russia and son ally Belarus – including cutting all their SWIFT dominant banks system for global financial transactions – were also on the table, according to an EU official who was not authorized to speak publicly.
“The energy sector is the Kremlin main The source of income, some 600 millions euros per day,” said Karins. “If we were to stop the purchase of Russian energy would stop funding of the Russian military machine.”
All leaders agree that the EU should reduce his addiction on imports of Russian gas, oil and coal while accelerating the green transition. The EU imports 90% of natural gas used to generate electricity, heat homes and the supply industry, with Russia providing almost 40% of EU gas and a quarter of son oil.
Earlier this week, the European Commission proposed to diversify natural gas supplies and speed up renewable energy development in an offer to reduce EU demand for Russian gas two-thirds before the end of the year.
Macron said the talks in Versailles were intended to determine how pace the EU can “reduce then remove” its dependence as year- the end date proposed by the commission seems unrealistic to many member states.
This is also unlikely leaders soon follow from washington lead and unanimously approve a full embargo on Russian oil and gas imports on Friday. France won’t defend what it sees as a drastic measure and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has made clear he opposes the idea.
Efforts to get along on a boycott are complicated because some EU countries including Germany and Italy, are much more dependent than others on Russia. Poland gets 67% of son oil from Russia, while Ireland receives only 5%.
Rutte said it was essential that the EU should “do not (leave) in a hurry in the direction of a complete to forbid on oil and gas from Russia.”
The EU has shown remarkable cohesion since the beginning of the war last month. He quickly passed massive sanctions targeting Putin himself, the financial system and its high-maintenance oligarchs. This also took the unprecedented step of collectively supplying arms to a country under attack.
According to a plan of conclusions of the summit obtained by the Associated Press, the leaders will agree in Versailles that they “must resolutely strengthen (their) investments in defense capabilities and innovation technologies”and to pursue efforts to make the EU “a more competent security provider.”