‘HISTORIC’ MEETING OF EU FOREIGN MINISTERS IN KYIV AFTER US, SLOVAKIA WOBBLES

Mon 02 October 2023:

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the foreign ministers’ first joint meeting outside EU borders sent a signal that EU support is “unwavering” and underscored the EU’s commitment to Ukraine.

Some of Europe’s top diplomats gathered Monday in Kyiv in a display of support for Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion as signs emerge of political strain in Europe and the United States about the war.

We are convening a historic meeting of EU Foreign Ministers here in Ukraine, candidate country and future member of the EU.

We are here to express our solidarity and support to the Ukrainian people.https://t.co/zcv6agCcIy

— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) October 2, 2023

The foreign ministers from the European Union’s 27 member countries converged on the Ukrainian capital for an unannounced informal meeting that officials said would review the bloc’s support for Ukraine and discuss Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s proposed peace formula.

Borrell said the informal summit on Monday was the first time the foreign ministers would meet outside existing EU territory. It underscored Europe’s continuing support for Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s government, he said, more than 18 months after Moscow’s full-scale invasion.

“This war is having deep consequences for the whole world. Maybe it’s not seen like this by everybody around the world. But for us Europeans, it’s an existential threat,” Borrell said, standing next to Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba.

Borrell, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs, reaffirmed Brussels’ commitment to Ukraine’s EU membership. Monday’s meeting was taking place “within the future borders of the European Union”, he said, and amounted to a “message of support”.

Discussions will take place amid concerns over cracks in support for US funding for the war and after a pro-Russian populist party won the most votes in an election in Slovakia on Saturday.

SLOVAKIA’S POPULIST PARTY OPPOSED TO UKRAINE AID GRABS VICTORY

Sources say Monday’s meeting will focus on all aspects of the “EU support to Ukraine, with particular focus on continued military assistance, peace efforts and EU accession”.

It will include discussion of Zelenskiy’s 10-point peace plan, which calls for Ukraine’s 1991 borders to be fully restored and for Russian troops to return home. It has been discussed twice by national security representatives in the past year but not at this level.

US President Joe Biden on Sunday reassured allies of continued U.S. financial support for the war effort, after Congress averted a government shutdown by adopting a short-term funding package that dropped assistance for Ukraine in its battle against Russia.

Many US lawmakers acknowledge that winning approval for Ukraine assistance in Congress is growing more difficult as the war grinds on.

US HOUSE PASSES STOPGAP MEASURE TO AVERT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

Kremlin says Ukraine fatigue ‘will grow’ after US aid rift

The Kremlin predicted that Western fatigue over the Ukraine conflict “will grow” as the future of US aid for Kyiv hung in the balance following a deal to avoid a government shutdown.

“Fatigue over this conflict – fatigue from the completely absurd sponsorship of the Kyiv regime – will grow in various countries, including the US,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, adding that Washington will “continue its involvement in this conflict”.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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