Address to the Ukrainian people by European Council President Charles Michel

 

Press material Sunday 27 February 2022

● European Council   27/02/2022 20:57 | Statements and remarks | Address to the Ukrainian people by European Council President Charles Michel   Dear Ukrainian friends, Russia has decided to launch a brutal, savage war, based on despicable lies. And you — the Ukrainian people — are the innocent victims of this folly. Of these lies. This is the Kremlin’s war. Putin's war, not the Russian peoples’ war. Since Maidan, you - the Ukrainian people - have made the brave and free choice of liberty, democracy, and rule of law. And today, you are resisting fiercely and heroically. You are defending your land and your dignity. Your freedom and your children. Your integrity. Your democracy. It is also the dignity, freedom, and democracy of the whole of Europe that is under attack. And that you are defending. This is why we - in the EU - have the moral and political duty to rise to this historic challenge. We stand by you. Not just with words, but with concrete and immediate action. Mobilising the international community Together with our partners, we have mobilised an international anti-war coalition to support you and your country. A rising tide of nations and leaders. All standing up in defence of international law. Material and military support We are organising the emergency delivery of defensive military equipment. Guns, ammunition, rockets, and fuel are on their way to your troops. We are also providing significant money and humanitarian assistance. Sanctions We are already hitting hard those who launched this war against you. We have decided, together with all our partners, unprecedented sanctions against the Russian leadership. Including against Vladimir Putin and Sergey Lavrov. And we are targeting all the oligarchs who support them. With our allies, we are cutting Russia, and its economy, from the international financial system. This will severely cripple Russia’s ability to operate globally. We are also closing European airspace to Russian airlines. And we will go further. We would prefer to solve this conflict through dialogue and negotiations. But let there be no doubt. We will hold to account all those responsible for this war. And all those who violate the law of war and international humanitarian law. Contact with President Zelensky I am in constant contact, as far as possible, with your brave President, my dear friend Volodymyr Zelensky. I salute his composure and his courage. They are a reflection of your composure and your courage. Your President - and you the Ukrainian people, Ukrainian nation – are rising to this historic moment. And today, all of Europe must also rise to this historic moment. We stand with you. Long live Europe! Slava Ukraïni!

Meetings Sunday 27 February 2022

● Council of the EU   27/02/2022 22:40 | MEETING | Main results - Informal video conference of foreign affairs ministers, 27 February 2022   EU Foreign Affairs Ministers informally met via video conference to discuss further measures to be adopted in response to Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. Council of the EU Informal video conference of foreign affairs ministers, 27 February 2022 Main results EU Foreign Affairs Ministers informally met via video conference, and held a discussion on further measures to be adopted in response to Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. This is a historical moment because this is the first time since the end of the second world war that a military power invades another sovereign state in violation of international law. Secondly because Europeans have reacted in a way that have surprised a lot of people, starting with the Russians themselves.Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Ministers gave the political green light to a new set of measures, which are due to cover various strands of action: EU support to the Ukrainian armed forces through the European Peace Facility further individual and economic sanctions, covering among others the closing of EU airspace to Russian aircrafts, the SWIFT financial messaging system, and the resources of the Russian Central Bank diplomatic engagement in order to work towards the international condemnation and isolations of Russia measures to support Ukraine and the region initiatives to counter disinformation, including the prohibition for state-owned media Russia Today and Sputnik to broadcast in the EU. These decisions will now need to be finalised through relevant legal acts. Urgent assistance to Ukraine: High Representative Josep Borrell convenes extraordinary meeting of EU foreign ministers (European External Action Service) EU relations with Ukraine (background information) EU restrictive measures in response to the crisis in Ukraine (background information) Meeting information Meeting n°270222FAC Video conference 27 February 2022 18:00 Preparatory documents Provisional agenda Outcome documents List of participants Meetings Sunday 27 February 2022 ● Council of the EU 27/02/2022 18:54 | MEETING | Main results - Extraordinary Justice and Home Affairs Council, 27 February 2022 Home affairs ministers took stock of the response to provide to the consequences of the war in Ukraine. The ministers focused on humanitarian support, the reception of refugees, the management of the external borders, measures on visas and the anticipation of hybrid threats. Council of the EU Extraordinary Justice and Home Affairs Council, 27 February 2022 Main results At an extraordinary meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 27 February, home affairs ministers took stock of the response to provide to the consequences of the war in Ukraine. Today we express our unity and our total solidarity with Ukraine and its people. The European Union and its Member States have provided, and will continue to provide, political, financial, humanitarian and logistical support in the face of Russian aggression.Gérald Darmanin, French Minister of Interior In order to monitor the situation, coordinate solidarity measures and involve all relevant actors, following this exchange, the Presidency decided to fully activate the EU Integrated Political Crisis Response (IPCR) arrangements. A first technical meeting will be convened already tomorrow, Monday 28 February. Ministers focused on the following five aspects: Humanitarian support On 15 February, Ukraine sought assistance under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The initial support offered within this framework mainly relates to healthcare and medical supplies, as well as accommodation capacities. Ministers gave a commitment to provide additional assistance and validated the idea of logistical support to facilitate getting those supplies into Ukraine. Ministers also agreed on the need to provide all the necessary assistance to Moldova. Reception of refugees The war in Ukraine has led to an influx of people seeking refuge in the European Union. Reception capacity has been made available in several Member States, in particular in the countries bordering Ukraine. Ministers expressed their readiness to provide support, under EU coordination, to Member States which request it. Specific requests will be dealt with in the framework of the IPCR. Ministers also discussed the possibility of establishing an appropriate temporary protection mechanism for the reception of these nationals. The Commission proposed activating the mechanism provided for by the 2001 directive on temporary protection. There were expressions of broad support for this measure, which will be submitted to the JHA Council without delay. Management of the external borders The decision to activate the ICPR will provide a platform for solidarity for managing the external borders, by mobilising all the available instruments and means for the benefit of the Member States on the front line. Should the influx of people increase further, neighbouring countries could be offered support in conducting their tasks of security checks and registrations at borders. In that event, European instruments could be mobilised in order to contribute to that, notably in the form of support from Frontex and Europol. The Presidency commended the Commission’s proposal to propose recommendations on the conduct of security checks. Measures on visas On 25 February the Council adopted a decision on the partial suspension of the agreement on the facilitation of the issuance of visas with Russia. Diplomats, other Russian officials and businesspeople will no longer be able to benefit from the visa facilitation provisions, which allow privileged access to the EU. Ministers agreed to coordinate their national measures and, in general, their visa policy towards Russia. Furthermore, the Presidency asked the Member States not to recognise passports issued by the Russian authorities in the occupied territories in Ukraine. It also proposed a coordinated approach to end the practice of ‘golden passports’, which certain Russian leaders can obtain. Anticipation of hybrid threats Recent experience has shown that actors hostile to the EU are ready to use new means of pressure. In the context of the situation in Ukraine, Member States and the European Commission reviewed the preparedness measures taken at both national and European level. They agreed on the need to step up information exchange and coordination to respond rapidly and effectively to any attempt at destabilisation. EU relations with Ukraine (background information) EU restrictive measures in response to the crisis in Ukraine (background information) Meeting information Meeting n°3853 Brussels 27 February 2022 15:00 Preparatory documents Provisional agenda Outcome documents List of participants