Renew Europe calls for swift decisions and actions by the EU leaders, who must deliver the promised aid to Ukraine

The need for unwavering EU support for Ukraine must translate into clear actions and decisions by Member States, which cannot further delay the delivery of vital military aid to Kyiv.

After two years of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU is lagging behind its own promises when it comes to funding and delivery of ammunitions, weakening not only Ukraine’s capacity to defend itself, but also the security of Europe as a whole.

Speaking during today’s plenary debate on this matter, Renew Europe MEP, Petras Auštrevičius (Lithuanian Liberal Movement), shadow rapporteur on Ukraine, said:

“Only a strong Europe with strong defence capabilities can stop Russia from continuing on its war path. It is therefore important that Europe’s security challenges are properly understood by our citizens, especially by the young people who will continue the fight against eastern totalitarianism.

This week we concluded trilogue negotiations for the Ukraine Facility, but the amount of our support for Ukraine needs to be multiplied. So must European defence capabilities. Only in this way can the threat to Europeans from Russian fascism be averted.”

Renew Europe MEP, Nathalie Loiseau (Horizons, France), Chair of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence, added:

“The European summit on February 1 was a success because it confirmed our financial aid to Ukraine, but when it comes to military aid, it was a failure. Hungary blocked for months the eighth tranche of European military aid, the future of a visible and predictable European Peace Facility for Ukraine is uncertain, rather than acting and deciding, our countries accuse each other of not doing enough when everyone should be doing more and faster.

The European leaders must understand that they need to be up to the task. For Ukraine, for the security of Europe. Failure is not an option, complacency is not a method.”