The head of the European Commission after the meeting of the “coalition of the willing”. “We will increase pressure on Russia”
Von der Leyen noted “promising progress” in recent days and hours in peace negotiations. She welcomed the participation of US Secretary of State Marc Rubio in the meeting of the coalition of the willing, i.e. a group of countries ready to provide security guarantees to Ukraine, in which the United States is not a member.
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What sanctions are planned against Russia?
What actions is the coalition of the willing taking?
What amount has been proposed for Ukraine?
Who represented Poland at the coalition of the willing meeting?
— We need strong transatlantic cooperation because it brings results, emphasized the head of the European Commission. — Consider the significant impact of our coordinated and subsequent waves of sanctions on the Russian economy. They limit the resources that Russia has to wage its aggressive war, she noted.
“And since pressure remains the only language to which Russia responds, we will continue to increase it until there is a real will to commit to a credible path to peace,” she added.
Russian attacks during the coalition of the willing meeting. “Another Reminder”
Von der Leyen noted that on Monday evening — while Europe and its partners were engaged in peace talks — Russia stepped up its attacks on Kiev, with missiles and drones even violating the airspace of Moldova and Romania.
— This is another reminder that Ukraine's security is Europe's security. Ukraine's interests are our interests, they are inseparable, she emphasized.
— That is why we will continue to strongly support Ukraine in the upcoming negotiations, declared the President of the European Commission.
Reparations loan to Ukraine. There was a specific amount
According to her, the key point of these talks is the issue of financing Ukraine, including the use of immobilized Russian state assets.
The EC proposed a reparations loan in the amount of EUR 140 billion, which would be financed using frozen Russian assets. Work on it has been ongoing since September. Ukraine would return the loan once Russia paid compensation.
However, the peace plan being pushed by the United States, according to media reports, was to include an alternative use of the frozen assets of the Russian central bank, allowing the US to profit from these funds.
The 28-point plan, which the US was to negotiate with Russia, has been consulted in recent days with Ukraine, as well as European countries: France, Germany and Great Britain. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that after the talks in Geneva, the number of points in the US peace proposal had been reduced and “is no longer 28” and included “many right things.”
Meeting of the “coalition of the willing”. Poland was represented by the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
At the remote meeting of the coalition of the willing on Tuesday, Poland was represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski. The hosts of the meeting were French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
At the beginning of the meeting, Macron said that “finally there is a chance for real progress towards good peace” between Ukraine and Russia, but its condition is security guarantees for Kiev.
