Elisa Pallotta Topics Covered
It took place in a context of high tension and symbolic significance. Visit of the new European Commission to Kiev, with a clear message of solidarity with Ukraine, against the backdrop of the war with Russia. European leaders meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, have reiterated EU support for resistance against Russian invasion. The President of the European Council, the Portuguese Antonio Costa, firmly declared: “We came to give a clear message, we stand by Ukraine and will continue to give it full support.".
Russia-Ukraine War: “The EU wants Ukraine to win this war”, the words of Kaja Kallas
Even more decisive was the Estonian Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Policy of the EU, who cut short: "The EU wants Ukraine to win this war”, without excluding the possibility of sending any troops: “Sending soldiers? Nothing should be ruled out”. A statement that has generated discontent and internal debates in the 27 member countries. Despite this, Zelensky rules out requests for direct intervention, and in a press conference he states: “We will never ask to send troops, otherwise half of our allies would stop supporting us.”. However, he points out the need for NATO involvement in negotiations with Moscow: “The invitation to join is necessary for our survival”. In this regard, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte maintains a cautious line, and there will be no proclamations even at the NATO summit convened to increase aid to Kiev. The policy of the United States following the inauguration of Donald Trump also remains to be evaluated., which still leaves some questions open.
Zelensky: Truce and negotiations possible only after Ukraine's defense capabilities are strengthened
Zelensky, for his part, stressed that Truce and negotiations will be possible only after Ukraine's defensive capabilities are strengthened, with the inclusion of long-range weapons to strike the positions from which the attacks are launched on Russian territory, and after the invitation to join NATO.Why Russia now has the North Koreans, Iran and other allies while we are alone on the battlefield”. On the Russian front, Putin increases military spending by 32,5% of budget which in 2025 will be allocated to defense, equal to 145 billion dollars, claiming the conquest of two more villages in the eastern Donetsk region, a central transport hub.
Ukraine-Russia War and Pope Francis' Appeal: Everyone's Responsibility for Peace
According to Moscow, they would be 255 soldiers killed in Kursk in the last 24 hours and 37 thousand killed in the entire period of combat in the area where Kiev is now striking with US Atacms. A “terrible sequence of deaths, violence, destruction” condemned at the Angelus also by Pope Francis who launches the appeal: the responsibility for peace is everyone's. The President of the European Council Andrea Costa embraced Zelensky, who is firm on the point: we will never recognize the Russian occupation. Then the US clarification: “It is up to Ukraine to decide” any territorial concessions.
