Ukraine Looks to EU for Increased Support

As the European Union prepares for a new leadership team, Ukraine is urging for increased assistance and expedited accession processes, according to Vsevolod Chentsov, Ukraine's envoy to Brussels. Chentsov emphasized the critical nature of the next five years for the EU's role as a global actor, expressing confidence in the commitment of incoming European Council President António Costa and EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas to support Ukraine across various sectors. Chentsov outlined Ukraine's expectations for sustained military aid, which includes defense systems, ammunition, and training for its armed forces. Financial assistance is also a priority, with hopes pinned on grants and loans from the Ukraine Facility and a substantial €50 billion financial package sourced from frozen Russian assets. Humanitarian aid remains crucial, as millions have been displaced due to the ongoing conflict, and Chentsov anticipates increased EU involvement in both humanitarian support and infrastructure rebuilding. On the topic of EU enlargement, Chentsov expressed optimism for progress in Ukraine's accession talks in the coming months, particularly regarding the judiciary and fundamental rights. He noted that the unanimous agreement of all EU member states is necessary for advancing these discussions. Chentsov also highlighted the importance of implementing joint security commitments made in June, ensuring consistent military support for Ukraine, irrespective of external political factors. In light of ongoing military threats, Chentsov reported over two thousand attacks from the Kursk region of Russia on Ukrainian communities. He stated that Ukraine has established a buffer zone to protect its citizens, controlling over 90 settlements previously threatened by Russian forces. However, he stressed that the effectiveness of Ukraine's defense operations would be enhanced if it could utilize partner-supplied weapons for long-range strikes against Russian military targets.