Dear Radek,
Thank you for hosting us here at this important moment.
There is really a new, intensive diplomatic push underway for ending Russia’s war. Europe continues to support all efforts towards just and lasting peace.
Today, we discussed with the Ministers how we can contribute to this. Despite the diplomatic outreach, the reality on the ground is grim. This week alone, at least 45 civilians have been killed in Ukraine in the Russian airstrikes, and these are civilians. There is little sign for imminent peace.
Instead, Ukraine faces another very difficult winter. Russia will again target Ukraine’s power stations that keep the lights on, homes warm, and water running. Moscow attempts to freeze Ukraine into surrender, but we will not let it happen. To bolster Ukraine’s resilience, the EU dispersed another €4.36 million under our Support Loan this week, but it is clear that more is needed.
On the battlefield, Russia is stuck. A record 54,000 Russian troops were killed or wounded in October alone, and this is a staggering amount, roughly the capacity of Warsaw´s National Stadium. Russia cannot sustain such losses on such scale indefinitely.
We cannot say how and when Ukraine and Russia will strike a peace deal. We can say what it needs to be put one into effect. Any agreement, in order to be implemented, will require the European Union to be part of it. From security guarantees, sanctions, reconstruction, Ukraine’s EU accession, there is no way around the European Union. Europe has its core security interests vis-à-vis Russia. We are not the mediator. We are firmly on Ukrainian side. Any agreement to end the war must prevent Russia from using the force again and using a pause to rearm and reattack.
And that is why earlier this year I put forward a paper with core demands towards Moscow, discussed by the European Union Foreign Ministers, that should be used as the basis of negotiation. There can be no legal recognition of Russia’s claim to occupy Ukrainian territory. Russia must be held accountable for its war crimes, violations of international law and pay for the destruction it has caused. Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and the right to choose its own alliances must be respected. There can be no cap on the size of Ukrainian armed forces, and children deported from Ukraine must be returned home. Russian sabotage across Europe must stop. In short, concessions should be on the aggressor, not on the victim.
I want to make a fundamental point here. We already have European Security Architecture in place. NATO and the European Union both have their respective roles. We must make sure Ukraine is integrated into this architecture. The problem remains that Russia keeps breaking the treaties that underpin it. NATO posed no threat to Russia in 2021, and it poses no threat to Russia at the moment. Putin does not have a veto over European security.
Looking ahead, Ministers were clear that we will continue supporting Ukraine and dialling up the pressure on Russia, including through the 22nd sanctions package.
But let us also be clear: Russia did not start this war over money. It started this war because its ability to wage this war also depends on money. Energy deals with Russia only prolong the war.
Ministers also addressed Russia’s grey zone tactics. As Russia is willing to take greater risks, Europe also must impose greater costs,: more sanctions, tighter controls on the movement of Russian diplomats, a visa ban of Russian ex-combatants, new counter-drone capabilities, and an emergency security protocol are some of the options that are currently on the table that we are discussing now. Russia’s attacks against Europe will come at an increasingly heavy price.
Radek, thank you again for having this good and open discussion today.