UNGA: Press remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell after the informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers

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UNGA: Press remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell after the informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers

25.09.2024 Press and information team of the Delegation to UKRAINE

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Thank you very much for waiting.

It has been one of the shortest [informal] Foreign Affairs Council meetings, but I have to say one of the most tense, in a more challenging environment. I do not want to exaggerate, but certainly the situation [around the world] is worrisome - wherever you have a look.

We had the visit of the new Foreign Affairs Minister of Ukraine [Andrii Sybiha‎] with news from Ukraine. We [were] dedicated to the two most pressing issues for the European Union and for the wider world impact in this week: the Russia's war against Ukraine and the very dangerous escalation in the Middle East - I mean Gaza, Lebanon, West Bank, wherever in the region.

First, on Russia and Ukraine: For the first time, we were joined by Ukraine's new Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, who substitutes our friend, [Dymitro] Kuleba.

He briefed us about the continuing and intensified Russian escalation and bombing of civilian targets with missiles, drones, and glide bombs. It is clear that Russia has been receiving new arms, in particular missiles from Iran. This is what we believe - even if Iranians deny it, but it looks like it.

In any case, Russian drones and missiles have been continuing to approach and sometimes entering into the European Union Member States' space. This is very risky. The Russian drones and missiles are entering and approaching, and, in some cases, borderline entering in our airspace.

Russia continues to hamper global food security. For a long time we have not been talking about food security, but the threat here continues. Most recently, they [Russians] have been hitting a ship transporting Ukrainian grain to Egypt, in the Black Sea, in the Romanian economic zone. Not in the territorial waters, but in the Romanian economic zone. A ship transporting grain to Egypt has been hit by Russian missiles.

In the middle of this situation, Ukraine is reacting fully and in line with its right to self-defence - Article 51 of the United Nations Charter - and needs more than ever our support.

In the last days, Ukraine managed to destroy important stockpiles of Russian weapons very deep into Russian territory - in some cases, 500 kilometres from the border. This has been an important successes for the Ukrainian army: it was about two big stockpiles of ammunition at 500 kilometres from of the border, which is certainly an important military capacity.

On the other side, unhappily, there is the energy situation.

This morning, I attended the G7+ meeting, chaired by Secretary of State [of the United States, Anthony] Blinken and the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, where we discussed about the energy situation in Ukraine. It is clear that Russia wants to put Ukraine into the dark and the cold. The winter is coming, and following Russian attacks against energy targets, Ukraine's energy production capacity has been reduced by two-thirds.

Just imagine, here in New York, or in any European Union Member State, losing two-thirds of the energy capacity production. First, on the electricity, due to the siege of Zaporizhzhia by the Russian troops. Secondly, due to the last bombings, they lost 9 gigawatts of production capacity.

Winter is coming, and we have to support Ukraine, not only providing military capacity, but electricity production capacity. Otherwise, this country will be facing a very hard time in winter.

In order to support Ukraine, we have made - at the [European] Commission - a proposalto raise up to €35 billion alone to support Ukraine, both militarily and economically.

Both things have to be done at the same time. It does not make sense to provide [it] with an electricity generator today, if it will be destroyed tomorrow. It is not just "destroy and replace". We cannot replace everything being destroyed, because it will be an endless process.

So, we have to provide [Ukraine] with electricity generation capacity, with energy production capacity. One Member State is taking a power plant and taking it into pieces and sending to Ukraine to be reconstructed inside Ukrainian territory. At the same time, we have to provide air defence capacity, in order to avoid these capacities being destroyed as soon as they are being put into work.

The call is to support Ukraine from energy and from the military side. For that we will provide this loan - €35 billion. Well, it is a proposal, it is not done. It is a proposal. Sometimes we announce proposals as if they were decisions. The decisions belong to the Council [of the European Union]. And the Council will have to take their position by a qualified majority, in this case.

Yes, the situation in the battlefield, it is complicated. But Russia is still trying to fight in different fronts, especially the one opened with success by Ukrainian forces in the last weeks [in Kursk].

But there is a critical situation for Ukraine: it is energy production. No civilised country, no industrial country can survive without energy, without electricity. When you lost lose two-thirds of your production capacity, you are on the brink. So, we have to reinforce our capacity to supply capacities - both to replace what has been destroyed and to avoid these to be destroyed the following day.

More air defence capacity and more capacity to allow the Ukrainians to attack the Russians from where the Russians are attacking them, from where they are attacking them. Otherwise, they will do it with full impunity.

At the same time, there is a peace process - or there is a will to end the war. And we are supporting the process started by Ukraine to achieve a just and lasting peace, a real peace. This is the only viable way forward.

This will be our coordinated message here in the United Nations this week when we will meet our partners [from all] around the world. We will meet a lot of people around the world today, here, tomorrow, this week.

And we want to support the peace process started with the Summit of Peace in Switzerlandthis June. 110 countries and organizations participate in this process.

We look forward to the presentation by President [of Ukraine, Volodymyr] Zelenskyy of his 'Victory Plan' - a different thing. Ukraine has to improve their military situation in order to go to the peace negotiations in a good way, in a position of strength.

So, victory plan is about how to conduct the war, Peace Plan is about how to get peace. And one thing is strongly related with the other.

We see other peace proposals emerging. I want to be clear: any viable way forward has to be based on [respect for the] United Nations Charter respect. And these include Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and the right to self-defence.

There is a United Nations General Assembly resolution, of February 2023 - not so long ago - with 141 votes in favour; and this should guide the peace efforts.

And this resolution, allow me to remind it, calls on Russia to completely and unconditionally withdraw from Ukraine following a cessation of hostilities. This was, this is, and this remains [the basis for] a just and lasting peace basis.

The Minister debriefed us on Ukraine's efforts to advance on the European Union path, while defending itself from Russian aggression. I welcome and I can only encourage this approach, because remember, Ukraine is a candidate to become member of the European Union.

I mention it because in a few weeks, before the end of my term, I will present together with my colleagues in the [European] Commission, the next enlargement report, where we will take stock of the progress achieved by our candidates, and, in particular, by Ukraine.

Ukraine is fighting on several fronts at the same time, doing the reforms required to be a Member of the European Union, and fighting in the battlefield, and fighting in the rearguard. Trying to make the civilian population to survive, to be protected from the attacks, and to have the economic and financial capacity to fulfil all the commitments of a state.

And our military support to Ukraine has reached €46 billion with the last figures, which is certainly an important amount. Together with our economic, financial, humanitarian support, it is more than anyone else in the world, and overpassing the €100 billion.

Q&A

Q. Did you discuss this 'victory plan' today in this meeting with your colleagues? And the second question, you already said it a couple of times, that you believe that Ukraine should not have any limits with using weapons, like Western weapons, on Russian territory. Do you see any positive signs that this decision can be eventually made?

We will continue discussing that during this week, and in particular at the G7 level. I am leaving you to attend a meeting of the G7. This was an informal meeting. In informal meetings, decisions are not taken. In any case, Member States consider that this is something that belongs to their national capacity to decide. Some have already taken this decision, others still not, or they do not want to. Others, maybe they have not, but they do not say it. In any case, I know that inside and even [in] the decision-making process of the United States, this is being discussed. I will continue discussing it during this week. You know my position; my position is clearly in favour. Not everybody is supporting this position, but let's see what the position is at the end of the week.

Q. Did you discuss the victory plan on this meeting?

We do not know the victory plan. We know the label, but we have to wait to know what is inside the box.