EU Foreign Ministers discuss Peace Formula and military support for Ukraine

On 15 October, the European Union Foreign Affairs Council discussed the Peace Formula and military support for Ukraine. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, took part in the meeting online and briefed the EU ministers on the situation on the battlefield.

Sybiha commented on some elements of the Victory Plan that President Zelensky will present to the next European Council. The Council discussed how to advance the Peace Formula.

“There is a strategic logic in strengthening Ukraine, politically and militarily, to force Putin to go to negotiations, although I have to confess it looks like a very distant prospect,” Borrell told journalists after the Council. “We talked about the Peace Formula, we talked about military support – because we consider that peace cannot be confused with capitulation.”

He also said the problem of exports of grain is coming back because of the military threat of Russia. “We cannot allow Putin to endanger global food security or succeed in his effort to weaponise winter. […] He failed last year on this purpose. He must fail again,” Borrell said.

Borrell also said the EU needed more sanctions against the Russian shadow fleet and to ensure “the best possible capacities” of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and increase the EU training of Ukrainian Army through the EU Military Assistance Mission [EUMAM] that he said should be extended for the next two years.

The EU High Representative added the EU needed to finally find consensus on his proposals to unblock the European Peace Facility (EPF)/Ukraine Assistance Fund. “We are almost there,” said Borrell, adding that as soon as the EU will reach an agreement to deblock the EPF money for Ukraine, he will travel to Ukraine before the end of his mandate, i.e. by 1 November this year.

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