European Union Sets Priorities on Ukraine Conflict and Warns of Possible Sanction Escalation
During a press conference in Lisbon marking the conclusion of the European Council’s video summit on August 19, European Council President António Costa outlined the bloc’s primary objectives amidst the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
He emphasized that the main goal for the EU is to secure an unequivocal ceasefire from Russia.
Failure to do so, he warned, will result in the EU intensifying its sanctions pressure.
Costa stated that an immediate halt to the violence by Russia is the first step.
“Our top priority is to stop the killing and destruction.
Whether we call it a ceasefire or a truce, it doesn’t matter — what matters is maintain the pressure through sanctions until Russia meets our demands,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of increasing pressure on Russia to bring them to the negotiating table.
“Now, more than ever, it is critically important to actively leverage all available means to sustain pressure.
We must accelerate work on creating security guarantees similar to NATO’s Article 5, with active US participation.
A resolute coalition must remain engaged,” Costa emphasized.He highlighted the need to bolster military support for Ukraine, noting that Ukrainian armed forces remain the frontline defense of democratic values.
“We need to strengthen, support, and unblock our military aid to Ukraine.
The EU is already the largest provider of military and economic assistance, and we will continue to explore additional ways to do more,” he added.Background: On August 15, U.S.
President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held their first direct talks in Alaska, which drew widespread international attention.
Subsequently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders met with Trump at the White House to discuss diplomatic paths to end Russia’s aggression and to develop strategic solutions for Ukraine.
A detailed video of these diplomatic negotiations can be viewed on the ‘European Pravda’ website.