25.01.2022, 10:40
Borrell Allows EU Foreign Ministers to Meet in Kiev as a Sign of Solidarity
Source: OREANDA-NEWS
OREANDA-NEWS. The next Council of the European Union foreign ministers may take place in Kiev in order to demonstrate solidarity with Ukraine. European diplomacy chief Josep Borrell said this after the EU Council meeting.
"We can meet anywhere, why not in Kiev,"- he said in response to questions from journalists.
He said this would be possible if the situation around Ukraine deteriorates to "demonstrate solidarity", but so far "no decisions have been made on this issue".
Earlier, Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu proposed holding a council of EU foreign ministers in Kiev. "Rapid progress is needed in preparing firm and credible sanctions. I suggested that we consider organizing a meeting of [EU] foreign ministers in Kiev as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine,"- he wrote on Twitter.
In a reply post on Twitter, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba thanked his Romanian counterpart for "an excellent idea," stressing that he was ready to host such a meeting in Kiev.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted that Russia had never voiced a threat to the Ukrainian people.
In December 2021, the Russian Foreign Ministry sent draft agreements on security guarantees to the US and NATO, in which it proposed the alliance not to expand the alliance eastwards, in particular at the expense of the former USSR, and to give up the deployment of weapons in the countries bordering Russia. This was followed by three rounds of talks between the US, Russia and NATO from 9 to 12 January. So far no results have been achieved.
On January 24, NATO announced the redeployment of ships and aircraft to Bulgaria, Romania and Lithuania, while the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced the allocation of €1.2 billion in loans and grants to Ukraine because of the threat of "invasion". State Department spokesman Ned Price also ruled out any concessions to Russia and said that the U.S. insists on reciprocity and expects reciprocal steps from Moscow as well.
"We can meet anywhere, why not in Kiev,"- he said in response to questions from journalists.
He said this would be possible if the situation around Ukraine deteriorates to "demonstrate solidarity", but so far "no decisions have been made on this issue".
Earlier, Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu proposed holding a council of EU foreign ministers in Kiev. "Rapid progress is needed in preparing firm and credible sanctions. I suggested that we consider organizing a meeting of [EU] foreign ministers in Kiev as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine,"- he wrote on Twitter.
In a reply post on Twitter, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba thanked his Romanian counterpart for "an excellent idea," stressing that he was ready to host such a meeting in Kiev.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted that Russia had never voiced a threat to the Ukrainian people.
In December 2021, the Russian Foreign Ministry sent draft agreements on security guarantees to the US and NATO, in which it proposed the alliance not to expand the alliance eastwards, in particular at the expense of the former USSR, and to give up the deployment of weapons in the countries bordering Russia. This was followed by three rounds of talks between the US, Russia and NATO from 9 to 12 January. So far no results have been achieved.
On January 24, NATO announced the redeployment of ships and aircraft to Bulgaria, Romania and Lithuania, while the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced the allocation of €1.2 billion in loans and grants to Ukraine because of the threat of "invasion". State Department spokesman Ned Price also ruled out any concessions to Russia and said that the U.S. insists on reciprocity and expects reciprocal steps from Moscow as well.
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