EU Support for Ukraine Must Intensify, Russia's Goals Remain Unchanged – Romanian Foreign Minister in Brussels

Before an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on 29 June, Romanian Foreign Minister Luminica Odobescu said that Russia's strategic goals for Ukraine have not changed and the EU should step up its support for Ukraine. 

Odobescu noted that the EU should accelerate multilevel support for Ukraine, including military support.

‘We must unlock the European Peace Fund and the EUMAM military assistance mission to better meet the needs of the Ukrainian army. Russia's strategic goals for Ukraine remain unchanged. Attacks on civilian infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, are a ‘norm’ for Moscow,’ the Romanian Foreign Minister said. 

She stressed that the partners should help Ukraine prepare for the winter, and Romania will continue to provide assistance to Ukraine, as well as help Moldova, including in the energy sector. 

‘We must also continue to strengthen Russia's international isolation, including by adopting a new sanctions regime against Russia. I am referring to Russia's hybrid attacks against Ukraine, Moldova and EU member states,’ Luminica Odobescu said.

Earlier, in his comments before the meeting, the Lithuanian Foreign Minister also said that many EU countries do not fulfil their obligations to provide Ukraine with the promised weapons in a timely manner and called on the allies to step up their assistance to Ukraine.