Costa Invites EU Leaders to Talks on Europe’s Defense and Ukraine in October
European Council President António Costa has invited EU leaders to an informal meeting in Copenhagen on October 1 to discuss strengthening European defense readiness and further support for Ukraine.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to a statement made by António Costa on the social media platform X.
The planned informal meeting is expected to be hosted by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. The main topics will be strengthening European defense readiness and further support for Ukraine.
Costa stressed that the recent incidents involving Russia's violation of Polish and Romanian airspace are a signal for the EU to intensify joint action.
He recalled the agreements already reached on increasing defense investments, developing the industrial base, and joint procurement, emphasizing the importance of interoperability, standardization, and predictability for the European defense industry.
António Costa also emphasized the need to take into account the lessons of the war in Ukraine and to develop cooperation with the Ukrainian defense sector.
For further steps, the European Council President proposes to discuss the acceleration of joint capacity development, support for the eastern flank, and effective management, in particular by strengthening the role of defense ministers.
Regarding Ukraine, Costa called for discussions on how to make support more stable and predictable, maintain pressure on Russia through sanctions, and at the same time continue Ukraine's European integration process.
“Our security is tied to Ukraine’s security. In Copenhagen, I would also like to discuss how to further support Ukraine and reach a just and lasting peace,” he wrote.
In particular, António Costa highlighted the need to support the Ukrainian army “as the primary guarantee of the country's sovereignty and security.”
The topics of European defense and Ukraine will also be addressed at the European Council meeting in Brussels at the end of October, where everything must be formalized.
As The Gaze informed earlier, Ukraine has been invited to take part in upcoming negotiations among European Union defense ministers on plans to establish a “drone wall” along the bloc’s eastern frontier.