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Reuters reported that on October 2, foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) met in Ukraine (the first meeting held outside the EU's borders) to show the bloc's support for Kiev.
Concerns from the US and Slovakia
Earlier, in order to prevent a government shutdown, the US Congress removed funding for Ukraine from the emergency spending bill last weekend. There is currently much opposition to funding for Kiev within the Republican Party. However, the administration of US President Joe Biden has affirmed that it will continue to provide aid to Kiev.
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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba (left) and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell |
Meanwhile, in Europe, the Smer Social Democratic Party of former Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico won the most votes in the country's parliamentary elections and is on track to form a new government. During his election campaign, Mr. Fico stressed that "not a single bullet" from Slovakia's reserves had been sent to Ukraine. Speaking to the press after the election results, Mr. Fico stressed: "We have not changed our position that we are ready to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. Slovakia is ready to help rebuild Ukraine, but everyone is clear about our position on supplying weapons to Kiev."
Slovakia is a NATO country that borders Ukraine. Under the outgoing government, Slovakia has taken in refugees and supplied large amounts of weapons to Kiev.
EU's persistence
On his social network account X (formerly Twitter), Mr. Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the EU, shared: “We are convening a historic meeting of EU foreign ministers in Ukraine, a candidate country and future member of the EU. We want to express our solidarity and support for the Ukrainian people.”
Previously, according to the European Defense Agency, seven EU member states had ordered ammunition under a joint purchasing plan launched in March to provide emergency aid to Ukraine and replenish the West's depleting reserves.
Responding to Reuters, the European Defense Agency said the above countries ordered 155mm artillery shells, the type of artillery used most by Ukraine in the current conflict. This ammunition is related to four modern artillery systems designed and manufactured in Europe: the French Caesar, the Polish Krab, the German PzH2000 and the Slovakian Zuzana C/2000. According to Reuters, the joint ammunition procurement plan launched by the EU in March is worth at least 2 billion euros, with the goal of sending 1 million artillery shells and missiles to Ukraine within 12 months.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba expressed his pride in hosting the first meeting outside the EU. Regarding the US Congress' move, Mr. Kuleba affirmed that Kiev still believes in US support and believes that the recent decision of the US Congress is just "an accident".
As for the developments in Slovakia, Mr. Kuleba said it was too early to assess how the election would affect support for Ukraine. “We have to wait until the new government is formed,” Mr. Kuleba said.
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