The European Parliament approved a resolution calling for military aid to be provided to Kiev for as long as necessary.
The Commission will now have to seriously consider the supply of fighter planes, helicopters, missile systems and an increase in munitions.
The green light came with 444 votes in favour, 26 no and 37 abstentions. The resolution, writes Ansa, calls for using Russian assets frozen by the EU to rebuild Ukraine, strengthen sanctions against Moscow and its allies and start accession negotiations with Kiev this year.
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Accelerate the sending of military aid to Kiev in the coming weeks, both in terms of new weapons to counter Russia and programs for the training of Ukrainian pilots in the use of NATO-standard fighter jets. Thus in a joint appeal addressed today to the Western allies by the British premier Rishi sunak and the Polish president Andrzej Duda.
The two met in Downing Street, in view of the next summit of the Atlantic Alliance scheduled in Vilnius, Lithuania.
During the meeting, the two leaders confirmed that they are fully aligned in a strategy of firm support for Kiev. Sharing of intentions also for the entry into NATO of Sweden and Finland. Altar confirmed London's commitment to collective European security, emphasizing the coverage offered to Poland by the skies protection shield called UK's Sky Saber.
The Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen arrived in Kiev to meet the president Volodymyr Zelensky. Cohen will announce the return of the Israeli embassy to Ukraine for continued operations in Kiev. Cohen, according to the Foreign Ministry, should also see his counterpart Dmytro kuleba.
The reaction of Moscow and NATO
The Russian offensive against Ukraine may have already begun. Troops, vehicles and aircraft as well as nuclear ships in the Baltic are already deployed. The United States and Europe therefore intend to accelerate the delivery of weapons to Kiev that will allow it to defend itself and win on the battlefield. Moscow continues to threaten the West with an irreversible situation. The West is reaching “the point of no return” by trying to encircle Russia and turn it into one “Rogue state“, thundered the foreign minister Serghei Lavrov to the Duma, resolved to “put an end to the Western monopoly” and to build in its place “a global system that prevents the pursuit of selfish interests and which is instead based on a just and universal balance, as foreseen by the Charter of the United Nations“. On February 21, Vladimir Putin will appear in the Russian Parliament to take stock of the war and talk about the future.
The Allies do not intend to supply, for the moment, the jets requested by the Ukrainians. For now, Swedish premier Ulf Kristersson, EU president on duty visiting Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev, has proposed the creation of a coalition that decides on fighter planes. But meanwhile NATO has decided to urgently increase the production of ammunition, artillery and anti-aircraft, which after 12 months of war are starting to run short even among the allies.
The general secretary Jens Stoltenberg announced, at the end of the Alliance's Council of Defense Ministers, that in addition to the USA and France, Germany, Norway and other member countries have also signed contracts with companies in the sector to increase production. “Both existing production lines are being strengthened and investments are being made in new factories. We are totally focused on providing capabilities and not just means”Stoltenberg emphasized.
“The war will be decided this spring and this summer”, predicted Borrell, reiterating the need to "help Ukraine win".