SAWT BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL

| 5 December 2024, Thursday |

EU chief says bloc wants Ukraine as member

On Sunday, the European Union’s chief executive reaffirmed unequivocal support for Ukraine’s admission to the union, calling the country, which is currently under Russian aggression, “one of us.”

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, spoke to Euronews hours after the EU’s 27 member states opted to deliver arms to a country at war for the first time in its history. According to Reuters, it will supply weaponry worth 450 million euros ($507 million) to Ukraine.

“They do, in fact, belong to us over time.” We want them in because they are one of us,” von der Leyen told Euronews.

Ukraine, a democratic nation of 44 million people, gained independence from Moscow in 1991 after the Soviet Union fell apart, and has campaigned to join the NATO Western military alliance and the European Union, both of which Russia opposes vehemently.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began less than four days ago, has prompted a political, geopolitical, economic, and corporate response from the West that is unprecedented in scope and coordination.

    Source:
  • Reuters