EU confirms ‘unwavering support’ for Ukraine at European Political Community meeting

BRUSSELS

The European Union on Thursday reassured Ukraine of the bloc’s “unwavering support” at the third meeting of the European Political Community.

Top leaders of over 40 European countries gathered in the Spanish city of Granada to hold the third summit of the EU-initiated pan-European platform to discuss issues of strategic importance for the prosperity and security of the continent.

“No plan B in supporting Ukraine. Only Plan A - unwavering support for as long as it takes until Ukraine prevails,” Charles Michel, president of the European Council, said on X after holding a bilateral talk with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“The EU is preparing an additional strong package of support for the long-haul,” he added, referring to the bloc’s plan to support Ukraine with €50 billion ($52.6 billion) between 2024 and 2027.

The remarks came amid uncertainty over US financial support for Ukraine after US lawmakers struck a budget deal with no money for Ukraine.

Michel, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also held a four-party negotiation on the situation in the South Caucasus in the wake of Azerbaijan last month regaining full control over its territory of Karabakh.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had also been due to attend, but bowed out, reportedly when Türkiye was not set to be included, something Azerbaijan insisted on.

The meeting of the European Political Community took approximately two hours and ended without an official communique.

The previously announced press conference with the participation of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Moldovan President Maia Sandu was also canceled.

The organizers gave no explanation for the developments.

The 27 EU heads of state and government will continue in Granada on Friday with an informal EU summit to discuss migration, energy, and economic affairs, as well as the next long-term strategy of the bloc.